What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
8/13/2023: Aircraft experienced an engine failure/anomaly while inbound to the north Myrtle Beach airport (cre). 4 sob. Pilot was able to land the aircraft on a highway bridge, resulting in no injuries.
Pilot stated that, he was in a descent to the airport and at around 2500 feet the aircraft engine ceased producing power, but that the propeller continued spinning. He consequently was able to land the aircraft on the bridge. Pilot stated that he determined prior to takeoff that there was adequate fuel, 26 gallons in each tank, but just before losing the engine he had a low fuel annunciator illuminate.
It was reported that the left fuel cap was missing from the aircraft at the scene and that there was a blue fuel trail backwards and across the flaps. The pilot stated that he was certain he heard the fuel cap “click” after he replaced it when visually checking the fuel during the preflight. The aircraft departed from gastonia, NC (akh).
This reporting inspector contacted the A&P mechanic who maintains the aircraft and he stated that the fuel caps works correctly.
As the FAA filed it
8/13/2023: AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE/ANOMALY WHILE INBOUND TO THE NORTH MYRTLE BEACH AIRPORT (CRE). 4 SOB. PILOT WAS ABLE TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT ON A HIGHWAY BRIDGE, RESULTING IN NO INJURIES.
PILOT STATED THAT, HE WAS IN A DESCENT TO THE AIRPORT AND AT AROUND 2500 FEET THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE CEASED PRODUCING POWER, BUT THAT THE PROPELLER CONTINUED SPINNING. HE CONSEQUENTLY WAS ABLE TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT ON THE BRIDGE. PILOT STATED THAT HE DETERMINED PRIOR TO TAKEOFF THAT THERE WAS ADEQUATE FUEL, 26 GALLONS IN EACH TANK, BUT JUST BEFORE LOSING THE ENGINE HE HAD A LOW FUEL ANNUNCIATOR ILLUMINATE.
IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE LEFT FUEL CAP WAS MISSING FROM THE AIRCRAFT AT THE SCENE AND THAT THERE WAS A BLUE FUEL TRAIL BACKWARDS AND ACROSS THE FLAPS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS CERTAIN HE HEARD THE FUEL CAP “CLICK” AFTER HE REPLACED IT WHEN VISUALLY CHECKING THE FUEL DURING THE PREFLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM GASTONIA, NC (AKH).
THIS REPORTING INSPECTOR CONTACTED THE A&P MECHANIC WHO MAINTAINS THE AIRCRAFT AND HE STATED THAT THE FUEL CAPS WORKS CORRECTLY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N22RE · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.