Preliminary report
Preliminary report released 12 December 2007
On 18 October 2007, the pilot of a Cessna Aircraft Company C404 Titan aircraft was conducting a charter flight from Adelaide Airport, SA to Parafield Airport, Beverley airstrip, and return to Adelaide. The pilot had commenced descent into Adelaide on the final sector of the flight when the right engine lost power. There were no apparent anomalies, and the fuel quantity gauges were showing adequate fuel in each tank. After securing the right engine, the pilot continued to Adelaide Airport and landed without further incident.
Aircraft maintenance engineers who inspected the aircraft reported that 3 L of fuel was drained from the right tank and 90 L was drained from the left tank. The fuel quantity gauge was indicating 150 lbs (95 L) in the right tank. An engineer found that one of the electrical circuits in the right fuel quantity indicating system had a high resistance. After wiring in the circuit was repaired, the fuel quantity gauge correctly indicated zero fuel in the right tank. Calibration of the fuel quantity indicating system was carried out and during that process, the left and right signal conditioners were found to be unreliable and were replaced or repaired.
The operator amended its fuel documentation and fuel planning procedures to include a secondary means of verification of fuel on board to cross-check the electric fuel indication system.
Summary
On 18 October 2007, the pilot of a Cessna Aircraft Company C404 Titan aircraft, registered VH-TMP, was conducting a charter flight from Adelaide Airport, SA to Parafield Airport, Beverley airstrip, and return to Adelaide. The pilot had commenced descent into Adelaide on the final sector of the flight when the right engine lost power. There were no apparent anomalies, and the fuel quantity gauges were showing adequate fuel in each tank. After securing the right engine, the pilot continued to Adelaide Airport and landed without further incident.
Aircraft maintenance engineers who inspected the aircraft reported that 3 L of fuel was drained from the right tank and 90 L was drained from the left tank. The fuel quantity gauge was indicating 150 lbs (95 L) in the right tank. An engineer found that one of the electrical circuits in the right fuel quantity indication system had a high resistance. After wiring in the circuit was repaired, the fuel quantity gauge correctly indicated zero fuel in the right tank. Calibration of the fuel quantity indication system was carried out and during that process, the left and right signal conditioners were found to be unreliable and were replaced or repaired.
The operator amended its fuel documentation and fuel planning procedures to include a secondary means of verification of fuel on board to cross-check the electric fuel indication system.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) advised that a Civil Aviation Regulation (CAR) 215 direction [WRA3130] had been issued to the operator. In late 2007, CASA withdrew Airworthiness Bulletin 28-002.
Occurrence summary
| Investigation number | AO-2007-049 |
|---|---|
| Occurrence date | 18/10/2007 |
| Location | 102km N Adelaide |
| State | South Australia |
| Report release date | 23/01/2009 |
| Report status | Final |
| Investigation level | Systemic |
| Investigation type | Occurrence Investigation |
| Investigation status | Completed |
| Mode of transport | Aviation |
| Aviation occurrence category | Engine failure or malfunction |
| Occurrence class | Serious Incident |
| Highest injury level | None |
Aircraft details
| Manufacturer | Cessna Aircraft Company |
|---|---|
| Model | 404 |
| Registration | VH-TMP |
| Serial number | 4040125 |
| Sector | Piston |
| Operation type | Charter |
| Departure point | Beverley SA |
| Destination | Adelaide SA |
| Damage | Nil |