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December 28, 1988 · Cessna TU206D · N72249

Alamo, TX

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 28, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Alamo, TX
Aircraft
Cessna TU206D
Tail Number
N72249
Operator
Gonzalez Jose J
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW89LA033

SHORTLY AFTER ENTERING U.S. AIR SPACE, THE PLT (A MEXICAN NATIONAL) CANCELED HIS DVFR FLT PLAN. ABOUT 9 MIN LATER, HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY & SAID THE ENG HAD LOST POWER. DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT NIGHT, THE ACFT HIT TREES & CRASHED.ACCORDING TO AN FAA FORM 337, AUX FUEL TANKS HAD BEEN INSTALLED IAW STC SA2479WE. HOWEVER, THE INSTALLATION WAS NOT DOCUMENTED IN THE LOG BOOKS; THE WT & BALANCE INFO WAS NOT REVISED & THE FUEL SELECTOR & GAUGES WERE NOT PLACARDED TO REFLECT THE INCREASED CAPACITY. THE PLT RPRTD HE WAS CHANGING FUEL TANKS WHEN THE ENG DEVELOPED A 'VAPOR LOCK' & WOULD NOT RESTART. HE STATED THE 'VAPOR LOCK' PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED ON PREVIOUS FLTS, BUT HE HAD ALWAYS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN RESTARTING THE ENG. ADDITIONALLY, HE SAID THE PROBLEM HAD NOT MANIFESTED ITSELF PRIOR TO INSTALLATION OF THE AUX TANKS. AN EXAM OF THE TANKS REVEALED NO BOOST PUMPS OR TRANSFER PUMPS WERE INSTALLED. APRX 12.5 GAL OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE ACFT; UNUSABLE FUEL WAS 7 GAL. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND BETWEEN THE LEFT TANK & OFF POSITIONS.

NTSB Probable Cause

AIRPLANE'S COLLISION WITH TREES AND TERRAIN DURING AN ATTEMPTED FORCED LANDING AT NIGHT FOLLOWING AN ENGINE FAIURE. THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY FUEL STARVATION AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY FUEL SYSTEM WHICH THE OPERATOR HAD FAILED TO CORRECT.

Full Narrative

SHORTLY AFTER ENTERING U.S. AIR SPACE, THE PLT (A MEXICAN NATIONAL) CANCELED HIS DVFR FLT PLAN. ABOUT 9 MIN LATER, HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY & SAID THE ENG HAD LOST POWER. DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT NIGHT, THE ACFT HIT TREES & CRASHED.ACCORDING TO AN FAA FORM 337, AUX FUEL TANKS HAD BEEN INSTALLED IAW STC SA2479WE. HOWEVER, THE INSTALLATION WAS NOT DOCUMENTED IN THE LOG BOOKS; THE WT & BALANCE INFO WAS NOT REVISED & THE FUEL SELECTOR & GAUGES WERE NOT PLACARDED TO REFLECT THE INCREASED CAPACITY. THE PLT RPRTD HE WAS CHANGING FUEL TANKS WHEN THE ENG DEVELOPED A 'VAPOR LOCK' & WOULD NOT RESTART. HE STATED THE 'VAPOR LOCK' PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED ON PREVIOUS FLTS, BUT HE HAD ALWAYS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN RESTARTING THE ENG. ADDITIONALLY, HE SAID THE PROBLEM HAD NOT MANIFESTED ITSELF PRIOR TO INSTALLATION OF THE AUX TANKS. AN EXAM OF THE TANKS REVEALED NO BOOST PUMPS OR TRANSFER PUMPS WERE INSTALLED. APRX 12.5 GAL OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE ACFT; UNUSABLE FUEL WAS 7 GAL. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND BETWEEN THE LEFT TANK & OFF POSITIONS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:13 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna TU206D
Tail NumberN72249
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorGonzalez Jose J
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520-M · Reciprocating · 310
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind310° @ 18 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point55
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time01:20
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data