Cessna 310C N1813H

Summary

On 22 May 1996 at about 18:45 local time, a Cessna 310C registered N1813H was involved in an accident near Los Lunas, New Mexico, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 May 1996 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Los Lunas, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

34.8098, -106.7295

Aircraft

Cessna 310C

Registration

N1813H

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Banning → Belen

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW96LA224

Nobody was injured.

loss of total engine power due to fuel exhaustion for undetermined reason(s). The lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing was a related factor. The worn and leaking fuel system components and inadequate maintenance by unknown personnel were possible factors.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the airplane was fully serviced with fuel (130 gal usable) before takeoff. The pilot planned on a fuel consumption of 25 gph per the manufacturer's data, which would have provided a 1 hour fuel reserve. En route the flight encountered forecasted turbulence. The pilot stated that during descent, both engines 'stopped like fuel starvation.' The airplane was maneuvered for a forced landing on a highway, but due to traffic, a railroad right-of-way was selected. During a wheels-up landing, the right wingtip collided with a boulder. The right wing auxillary fuel tank was compromised, and the fuel line separated from the right tip (main) tank, but there was no physical evidence of fuel at the site. About 1 pint of fuel remained in the right main tank; the left main tank was empty. Both fuel selectors were set for the main tanks. During test runs, the left engine rotated, but was not run due to a fuel leak ('O' ring) at the throttle body. The right engine would only run when an external fuel boost pump was 'ON.' An 'O' ring fuel leak was observed at the engine fuel pump, and the pump exhibited a fuel stain from seepage. The fuel pump and the metering unit (after replacing the 'O' ring) flowed within specifications. Both units appeared to be leaking; they were deteriorated and in need of overhaul to change the rubber components. Time since the last annual inspection was 21 hours.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.