Fuel Exhaustion & Starvation · NTSB CEN19LA056
DOUGLAS DC3C — Kidron, OH
| Date | January 21, 2019 |
| Location | Kidron, OH |
| Aircraft | DOUGLAS DC3C |
| Purpose of flight | Positioning |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Initial climb Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail |
| Pilot age | 55 |
| Pilot total time | 15,457 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | 5,612 hrs |
| Fatalities | 2 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Aircraft power plant-Engine fuel and control-(general)-Inoperative - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft propeller/rotor-Propeller system-Propeller feather/reversing-Inoperative - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Engine out control-Malfunction - C
- Personnel issues-Physical-Sensory ability/limitation-(general)-Flight crew
What happened
The two pilots departed in a turbine powered DC-3C at maximum gross weight for a repositioning flight. The airplane was part of a test program for new, higher horsepower engine installation. Soon after liftoff and about 3 seconds after decision speed (V1), the left engine lost total power. The propeller began to auto-feather but stopped feathering about 3 seconds after the power loss. The airplane yawed and banked to the left, descended, and impacted terrain.
Recorded engine data indicated the power loss was due to an engine flameout; however, examination of the engine did not determine a reason for the flameout or the auto-feather system interruption. While it is plausible that an air pocket developed in the fuel system during the refueling just before the flight, this scenario was not able to be tested or confirmed. It is possible that the auto-feather system interruption would have occurred if the left power lever was manually retarded during the auto-feather sequence.
The power loss and auto-feather system interruption occurred during a critical, time-sensitive phase of flight since the airplane was at low altitude and below minimum controllable airspeed (Vmc). The acutely transitional phase of flight would have challenged the pilots' ability to manually feather the propeller quickly and accurately. The time available for the crew to respond to the unexpected event was likely less than needed to recognize the problem and take this necessary action – even as an immediate action checklist/memory item.