# NTSB DFW05LA165: Cessna 401A, N7KF, Houston, TX, June 20, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 2005, 18:26 local (23:26 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.500833, -95.285003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5008&lon=-95.2850&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61767 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05LA165 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61767/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05LA165 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power to both engines due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's improper fuel management. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - all engines (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - fence - object - vehicle - object - pole ## Analysis The 1,608-hour commercial pilot departed on a scheduled cargo flight. Prior to departure, he preformed a preflight inspection and visually verified all five fuel tanks were full. The flight took approximately 1 hour for the 162 nautical mile cross-country flight. Prior to his return flight, he again checked the fuel and oil. He noted that, he had 3 hours of fuel on board. About 15 minutes after departure, the pilot switched to the auxiliary tanks. The pilot stated, "after 10-15 minutes on taking fuel from the auxiliary tanks, I switched to the right locker tank." Shortly thereafter, air traffic control instructed him to start a descent, and he selected the main fuel tanks. During the approach, the right engine began to "sputter". As the pilot was going through the engine failure checklist, the left engine "started sputtering." The pilot switched the auxiliary fuel pumps to high; then changed from the main tanks to the auxiliary fuel tanks. The airplane landed short of runway 12R. Inspection of the aircraft revealed, both auxiliary fuel tanks were "dry", the right main fuel tank contained approximately 3-inches of fuel, and the left main tank was "dry", but had been breached during the landing. The right wing locker fuel tank was full of fuel, and the transfer switch was in the off position. The left fuel selector was found in the left auxiliary position and the right fuel selector was found in the right auxiliary position. The main fuel line on the right engine had no fuel in it, and the line to the fuel manifold valve was empty as well. The left main fuel line had a "couple teaspoons" of fuel in it, and the fuel line to the left fuel manifold valve was absent of fuel. ## Factual narrative On June 20, 2005, at 1826 central daylight time, a twin-engine Cessna 401A airplane, N7KF, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after a reported loss of engine power at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) near Houston, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injures. The airplane was registered to a private individual and was being operated by Amigo Aviation of Harlingen, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air cargo flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP), near Corpus Christi, Texas, at about 1715, and was destined for the William P. Hobby Airport. During the approach, the pilot reported to the tower that he "had engine failure." The airplane landed short of runway 12R, and impacted two vehicles and a sign. The airplane came to rest in an upright position on airport property. According to the pilot, prior to his departure from HOU he preformed a preflight inspection and visually verified all five fuel tanks were full of fuel. He then departed for CRP at about 0830, and the flight took approximately 1 hour for the 162 nautical mile cross-country flight. Prior to his return flight, he again checked the fuel and oil. He noted that he had 3 hours of fuel on board. He departed CRP about 1715 for the return flight to HOU. About 15 minutes after departure, the pilot stated he, "switched to the auxiliary tanks, which were full". He further stated, "after 10-15 minutes on taking fuel from the auxiliary tanks, I switched to the right locker tank." Shortly thereafter, ATC instructed him to start a descent, and he noticed he had approximately 30 gallons of fuel in each main tank. He then went through his checklist and switched to the main fuel tanks in preparation for his landing at HOU. The pilot added that "during the approach the engines came out of sync, and the right engine began to sputter." As he was going through the engine failure checklist, "the left engine also started sputtering." The pilot switched the auxiliary fuel pumps to high; then changed from the main tanks to the auxiliary fuel tanks, "which had approximately 3 gallons of fuel left in them." The engines did not recover, and the pilot tried to avoid hitting surface traffic on a road near the end of the runway. According to an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, the airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing. Examination of the aircraft revealed both auxiliary fuel tanks were "dry", the right main fuel tank contained approximately 3 inches of fuel, and the left main tank was "dry", but had been breached during the forced landing. The right wing locker fuel tank was full of fuel, and the transfer switch was in the off position. The left fuel selector was found in the left auxiliary position and the right fuel selector was found in the right auxiliary position. The inspector also noted that the main fuel line on the right engine had no fuel in it, and the line to the fuel manifold valve was empty as well. The left hand main fuel line only had a "couple teaspoons" of fuel in it and the fuel line to the left fuel manifold valve was found to be absent of fuel. The inspector also noted that both propellers were not feathered, and had indications of "no power". This Cessna 401A was equipped with 5 fuel tanks, for a total of 160 gallons of useable fuel; two main fuel tanks, two auxiliary tanks, and a single wing locker tank. A review of the Owners Manual describes that fuel is supplied to the engine, by a main tank located on each wing tip (50 gallons), or an auxiliary tank (20 gallons) in each wing. The respective fuel valve selector directs fuel to the engine, from either the auxiliary or main fuel tank position. The right wing locker tank (20 gallons useable) has no separate fuel selector control. Fuel from the wing locker is pumped directly into the right main tank with a fuel transfer pump. The 1,607-hour commercial pilot reported to have accumulated a total of 221 hours in twin-engine airplanes, of which 92 hours were in the same make and model airplane. At 1753, the automated weather observing system at HOU, reported wind from 050 degrees at 10 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, few clouds at 6,500 feet, temperature 90 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.98 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7KF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7KF-2015-04-30), registration cancelled 2015-04-30, S/N 401A0110, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 401A - Registry model: [Cessna 401A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-401a) (registry code 207590D) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 401A0110 - Engines: Continental IO-520 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Amigo Aviation, Inc, doing business as Amigo Aviation - Registered owner: Michael Carey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CRP, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX - Destination: HOU, HOUSTON, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: HOU, William P Hobby, runway 12R, 7,600 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 1,608 total, 92 in this make and model, 1,489 as pilot in command, 138 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: HOU, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050620014009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050620014009A), Jun 20, 2005: Cessna 401A, Houston, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On 06-20-2005 at 23:26 zulu, Cessna model 401A, N7KF struck a road sign, 2 vehicles and an airport perimeter fence while on final approach for runway 12R… ## Other investigations on N7KF (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB LAX84LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA161), Jan 28, 1984: Cessna 401A (N7KF), San Francisco, CA, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.