Cessna 400 N2515G

Summary

On 14 August 2011 at about 17:25 local time, a Cessna 400 registered N2515G, operated by Flexaviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Eastland, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 August 2011 at 17:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Eastland, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.4089, -98.8056

Aircraft

Cessna 400

Registration

N2515G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Flexaviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Eastland → Roanoke

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11LA577

2 people had minor injuries.

A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. .

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said the right fuel pump FUEL annunciator light flickered and then fully illuminated on takeoff, but the engine continued to operate. Since there were no other indications of a fuel pump failure, and the BACKUP fuel pump was ARMED, he continued with the flight. The pilot stated that, after a few miles, he “didn’t like the way [the engine] was running” so he initiated a turn back to the airport, during which the engine stopped producing power. The pilot turned on the vapor supression switch and then depressed the primer switch in an attempt to restart the engine. He was unable to maintain altitude and made a forced landing to a small clearing. Engine data downloaded from the Avidyne multifunction display indicated that the engine was operating during the 6 minute flight, but the exhaust gas temperature and turbine inlet temperature went to zero, but the fuel flow, rpm, cylinder head temperature, and manifold pressure did not. A functional test of the BACKUP fuel pump, FUEL annunciator light, latching relay and vapor suppression system revealed no anomalies. When the engine was test run, it started immediately and ran through its full power band without interruption. The engine-driven fuel pump, throttle body, fuel distribution valve, and the injectors were removed from the engine and bench tested. Each of the components passed their functional test criteria. The cause of the reported loss of power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.