# NTSB LAX91LA313: Rockwell 500S, N260AC, Kahului, HI, July 15, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 14, 1991, 19:20 local (Jul 15, 1991, 05:20 UTC)
- Place: Kahului, HI
- Coordinates: 20.870298, -156.450347 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=20.8703&lon=-156.4503&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 23, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27291
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA313
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27291/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA313

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER REFUELING.  THE FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER TO PUBLISH THE REFUELING INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OPERATOR'S MANUAL, THE INADEQUATE FUEL SERVICING OF THE AIRCRAFT BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND THE FAILURE OF BOTH ENGINES FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - instructions,written/verbal - inadequate, manufacturer (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

AFTER FILLING THE AIRCRAFT FUEL TANKS WITH 52.1 GALLONS OF AVIAITON GAS THAT OVERFLOWED THE FILLER NECK, THE PILOT ASSUMED THE TANKS WERE FULL TO THEIR 156 GALLON CAPACITY, THAT SHOULD PROVIDE 5.2 HOURS OF OPERATION. AFTER OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT FOR 3.3 HOURS BOTH ENGINES FAILED FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN THE OCEAN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N260AC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N260AC-2017-04-07), registration cancelled 2017-04-07, S/N 3085, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROCKWELL 500S
- Registry model: [Rockwell International 500-S](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-500-s) (registry code 7630410) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3085
- Airframe hours: 2896
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-E1B5 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James W. Mayes
- Registered owner: James W. Mayes
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1990, 77 hours before
- Departed: MUE, KAMUELA, HI
- Destination: HNL, HONOLULU, HI
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 871 total, 50 in this make and model, 659 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: OGG, 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 19910714027129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910714027129A), Jul 14, 1991: Gulstm 500S, Kahului, HI, Substantial damage. Both engines quit. Ditched in ocean near shore. Possibly not refueled properly last refueling.

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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