Thu, Oct 11, 2007
Right Fuel Selector Found Between Tanks
The National Transportation Safety
Board released its preliminary report into a September 21 accident
involving a Beechcraft 18 cargo plane in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
As ANN reported, pilot Robert
Robertson had just departed Fort Lauderdale Executive (FXE) for a
transport flight to the Bahamas when the aircraft's engines lost
power, and he was unable to maintain altitude.
The aircraft clipped a Florida Department of Transportation
storage building, before coming down on the southbound lanes of
I-95, north of the Commercial Boulevard exit. The aircraft came to
rest on its side, on a grass embankment... but did not strike any
other buildings, or any cars on the busy highway.
Robertson survived the accident, though he suffered several
broken bones.
The NTSB states no evidence of malfunction was found in the
aircraft's fuel system, although the Board did note the right fuel
selector was found positioned between the Right Main detent, and
the Auxiliary Tank detent.
Fuel was present in the fuel lines leading from the right main
wing tank, and from the auxiliary tank, to the valve... but "no
fuel was found in the outlet port or the fuel line, which led from
the valve to the engine," the report states.
Witnesses told investigators the plane's tail was "wagging" from
side to side shortly before the aircraft experienced loss of
control... possibly indicating an asymmetric-thrust situation. The
aircraft rolled to the right before impact.
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