Fuel Exhaustion & Starvation · NTSB CEN19FA143
Beech 60 — Loveland, CO
| Date | May 15, 2019 |
| Location | Loveland, CO |
| Aircraft | Beech 60 |
| Purpose of flight | Ferry |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Approach-VFR pattern downwind Fire/smoke (non-impact) |
| Pilot age | 69 |
| Pilot total time | 7,000 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | 100 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft power plant-Engine fuel and control-Fuel distribution-Failure - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft power plant-Engine fuel and control-Fuel distribution-Not inspected - C
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
What happened
The commercial pilot was relocating the multiengine airplane following the completion of an extensive avionics upgrade, which also included the installation of new fuel flow transducers. As the pilot neared the destination airport, he reported over the common traffic advisory frequency that he had "an engine out [and] smoke in the cockpit." Witnesses observed and airport surveillance video showed fire emanating from the airplane's right wing. As the airplane turned towards the runway, it entered a right-rolling descent and impacted the ground near the airport's perimeter fence.
The right propeller was found feathered. Examination of the right engine revealed evidence of a fire aft of the engine-driven fuel pump. The fuel pump was discolored by the fire. The fire sleeves on both the fuel pump inlet and outlet hoses were burned away. The fuel outlet hose from the fuel pump to the flow transducer was found loose. The reason the hose was loose was not determined. It is likely that pressurized fuel sprayed from the fuel pump outlet hose and was ignited by the hot turbocharger, which resulted in the inflight fire.