# NTSB ERA20CA176: Cessna 402, N4661N, Hampton, GA, May 9, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 9, 2020, 15:13 local (19:13 UTC)
- Place: Hampton, GA
- Coordinates: 33.375831, -84.297225 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3758&lon=-84.2972&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Emergency descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101257
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA176
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101257/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101257
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA176

## Probable cause

A dual total loss of engine power as a result of fuel exhaustion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 402C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=207590R), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Cessna 402C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=207590R), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 402C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=207590R), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Cessna 402C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=207590R), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 402C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=207590R), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According the commercial pilot and a flight instructor rated check pilot, they were conducting their first long-duration, aerial observation flight in the multiengine airplane, which was recently acquired by the operator. They departed with full fuel tanks, competed the 5-hour aerial observation portion of the flight, and began to return to the destination airport. About 15 miles from the airport, the left engine fuel warning light illuminated. Within a few seconds, the right engine stopped producing power. They attempted to restart the engine and turned the airplane toward an alternate airport that was closer. The pilots then turned on the electric fuel pump, the right engine began surging, and soon after the left engine stopped producing power. They turned both electric fuel pumps to the low setting, both engines continued to surge, and the pilots continued toward the alternate airport. When they were about 3 miles from the airport, both engines lost total power, and they elected to land on a highway. When they were a few feet above the ground, power returned briefly to the left engine, which resulted in the airplane climbing and beginning to roll. The commercial pilot pulled the yoke aft to avoid a highway sign, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, and subsequent impact with trees and terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Although both pilots reported the fuel gauges indicated 20 gallons of fuel remaining on each side when the engines stopped producing power, the flight instructor noted that there was no fuel in the airplane at the time of the accident. In addition, according to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site, both fuel tanks were breached and there was no evidence of fuel spillage.

## Factual narrative

According the commercial pilot and a flight instructor rated check pilot, they were conducting their first long-duration, aerial observation flight in the multiengine airplane, which was recently acquired by the operator. They departed with full fuel tanks, competed the 5-hour aerial observation portion of the flight, and began to return to the destination airport. About 15 miles from the airport, the left engine fuel warning light illuminated. Within a few seconds, the right engine stopped producing power. They attempted to restart the engine and turned the airplane toward an alternate airport that was closer. The pilots then turned on the electric fuel pump, the right engine began surging, and soon after the left engine stopped producing power. They turned both electric fuel pumps to the low setting, both engines continued to surge, and the pilots continued toward the alternate airport. When they were about 3 miles from the airport, both engines lost total power, and they elected to land on a highway. When they were a few feet above the ground, power returned briefly to the left engine, which resulted in the airplane climbing and beginning to roll. The commercial pilot pulled the yoke aft to avoid a highway sign, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, and subsequent impact with trees and terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Although both pilots reported the fuel gauges indicated 20 gallons of fuel remaining on each side when the engines stopped producing power, the flight instructor noted that there was no fuel in the airplane at the time of the accident. In addition, according to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site, both fuel tanks were breached and there was no evidence of fuel spillage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4661N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4661N-2021-11-15), registration cancelled 2021-11-15, S/N 402C0019, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 402 (C)
- Registry model: [Cessna 402C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402c) (registry code 207590R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 402C0019
- Year built: 1978
- Airframe hours: 17081
- Engines: Continental TSIO-520 SER 325 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-520 SER 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Operator: Handel International, LLC
- Registered owner: Aircraft Guaranty Corp Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 27, 2020
- Departed: FFC, Atlanta, GA
- Destination: FFC, Atlanta, GA
- Airport: HMP, Henry County Airport, runway 24, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 70; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 18, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,330 total, 11 in this make and model, 7,300 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 26; injuries: minor; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 10, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,096 total, 5.9 in this make and model, 934.2 as pilot in command, 272.7 in the last 90 days, 23.3 in the last 30 days, 5.9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observed at: HMP, 2 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 20200509004869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200509004869A), May 9, 2020: Cessna 402C, Hampton, GA, Destroyed. On may 09, 2020 at approximately 0920, aircraft N4661N, Cessna model 402C departed falcon field (ffc) in peachtree city, Georgia for aerial photo session.…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101257. 13.5 MB in all.

- Memorandum for record - CFI (item 1, PDF, 3 pages, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9757859&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Color%20CFI-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - CFI (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9718338&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CA176%206120%20CFI_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - pilot (item 3, PDF, 11 pages, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9719464&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CA176%206120%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - FAA inspector (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9767448&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Color%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf
- Fuel performance information with calculations (item 5, PDF, 10 pages, 848 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9768047&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=POH%20Excerpt%20with%20Fuel%20Calculations-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9718347&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CA176-Rel.pdf

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.

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