ATL95LA035

The aircraft collided with terrain while executing a forced landing into Covington, Georgia. The commercial pilot and his pilot rated passenger had completed a flight from peachtree city, Georgia, and were in the traffic pattern at Covington municipal airport for a visual approach when the aircraft lost power in both engines, as the aircraft turned from the base leg to final. The pilots had flown during cruise with the fuel selector in the auxiliary fuel tanks position, and had switched to the main fuel tanks position while turning onto the downwind leg. Less than 42 ounces of fuel was drained from the left auxiliary tank, and less than one gallon was drained from the right auxiliary tank. The main tip tanks were found to have 35 gallons each.

On January 10, 1995, about 1715 eastern standard time, a Cessna 310N, N4104Q, collided with the ground during the final landing approach to runway 10 at the Covington Municipal Airport, Covington, Georgia. The airplane was operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the personal flight. There were no injuries to the commercial pilot, nor his pilot rated passenger. The airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Peachtree City, Georgia, about 1630, on the same day.

The pilot reported that he returned to Peachtree City from a business flight and picked up his passenger. They flew to Griffin, Georgia, without landing, and then flew to Covington for practice landings. The right seat pilot was manipulating the flight controls. The flight from Griffin to Covington was made at 2500 feet, with the auxiliary fuel tanks selected. Upon arrival at the Covington Airport, the airplane crossed over the field, descended to pattern altitude and a turn to the downwind leg was begun. The fuel selectors were moved to the main tank position. An extended downwind was flown, because of an intervening airplane. While turning from the base to the final leg, the left engine quit. Seconds later, the right engine also quit. The left seat pilot took control of the airplane, and landed short of the runway. Upon impact, the left main landing gear was sheared off of the airplane. The aircraft skidded upslope to, and across the runway.

No fuel was found in the left main fuel tank, which is the tip tank, because of ruptures to the underside of the tank. Less than 42 ounces of fuel was drained from the left auxiliary fuel tank, and less than one gallon of fuel was drained from the right auxiliary fuel tank. The main fuel line to each engine was opened and drained. Less than two tablespoons of fuel was obtained from each. The fuel pumps were engaged with the auxiliary tanks selected, and no fuel flowed to the engines. About 35 gallons of fuel remained in the right main fuel tank. Each engine was started and operated with fuel from the right main fuel tank.