ANC97LA129

Operator personnel reported that shortly after takeoff, the engine began to lose power at an altitude of about 600 feet mean sea level, and that emergency procedures failed to restore engine power. The pilot turned back toward the departure airport, and selected an emergency landing area about 1 mile from the airport. The airplane touched down on soft tundra covered terrain and received damage to the landing gear, fuselage, and wings. An FAA airworthiness inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The fuel selector was found positioned to the left wing tip fuel tank. The left tip tank did not contain any fuel. No fuel was found in the fuel line from the gascolator to the fuel pump. No fuel was found in the line from the fuel pump to the engine manifold. After recovery, the engine was started, and it developed full power with, and without, the fuel boast pump in the 'ON' position. During the engine run, the left tip tank was selected. The engine continued to run for 1.5 minutes before quitting.

On August 24, 1997, at 1432 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N4170R, crashed during a forced landing about 1 mile east of Bethel, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight, under Title 14 CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated by Kusko Aviation Inc., Bethel, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot received serious injuries. The sole passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect.

At 1430:09, the flight departed on runway 36 for a planned flight to Quinhagak, Alaska. The chief pilot for the operator reported that after departure, the flight turned toward the southeast. The airplane engine began to lose power at an altitude of about 600 feet mean sea level. Emergency procedures failed to restore engine power, and the pilot turned back for Bethel.

A review of transcripts of voice recordings from the Bethel Air Traffic Control Tower (ATC), revealed at 1431:47, the pilot contacted the Bethel ATC, and stated: "and Bethel Tower, 70R like to return, don't have a problem, but I wanna check something out." The Bethel ATC controller cleared the airplane to land on any runway. At 1432:25, the pilot stated: "70R's out of --- out of engines."

The pilot performed an emergency landing about 1 mile from the approach end of runway 29 at Bethel. The airplane touched down on soft, tundra covered terrain. The airplane received damage to the landing gear, fuselage, and wings.

The chief pilot for the operator reported the normal company procedure for departing airplanes is to depart with the wing fuel tip tanks full. Fuel is burned from the main fuel tanks first, before using the tip tanks.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), examined the airplane at the accident site. The fuel selector was found positioned on the left wing tip fuel tank. The left tip tank did not contain any fuel. The right wing tip tank was about 1/2 full. The left main fuel tank was slightly less than full. The right main tank was nearly full. The inspector reported that no fuel was found in the fuel line from the gascolator to the fuel pump. No fuel was found in the line from the fuel pump to the engine manifold.

After recovery, the engine was started. The FAA inspector reported the engine developed full power with, and without, the fuel boast pump in the "ON" position. During the engine run, the left tip tank was selected. The engine continued to run for 1.5 minutes before quitting.