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NTSB Report
September 7, 1987 · Cessna 310J · N3037L
Delta, UT
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 7, 1987
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 serious injuries)
Location
Delta, UT
Aircraft
Cessna 310J
Tail Number
N3037L
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN87FA231
PLT stated after the acc that he was not familiar with the fuel system on the Cessna 310. The main fuel tanks are on the wing tips and the aux tanks are in the wings. The PLT thought the opposite. The PLT departed and was burning fuel from the main tanks when the engs quit at 13,000 ft. He switched to the aux tanks and did not get a restart after 10 secs. The PLT switched back to the main tanks and was unable to restart the engs. An emerg landing was made in a field. Exam of acft revealed the main tanks were empty and the aux tanks were nearly full. According to engineers at the Cessna acft co, the avg time needed for fuel to flow to the eng aft the selector valve has been moved fm one fuel tank position to another is approx 15 seconds. The PLT was aware that none of the fuel gages were working on the acft.
Full Narrative
PLT STATED AFTER THE ACC THAT HE WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM ON THE CESSNA 310. THE MAIN FUEL TANKS ARE ON THE WING TIPS AND THE AUX TANKS ARE IN THE WINGS. THE PLT THOUGHT THE OPPOSITE. THE PLT DEPARTED AND WAS BURNING FUEL FROM THE MAIN TANKS WHEN THE ENGS QUIT AT 13,000 FT. HE SWITCHED TO THE AUX TANKS AND DID NOT GET A RESTART AFTER 10 SECS. THE PLT SWITCHED BACK TO THE MAIN TANKS AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGS. AN EMERG LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD. EXAM OF ACFT REVEALED THE MAIN TANKS WERE EMPTY AND THE AUX TANKS WERE NEARLY FULL. ACCORDING TO ENGINEERS AT THE CESSNA ACFT CO, THE AVG TIME NEEDED FOR FUEL TO FLOW TO THE ENG AFT THE SELECTOR VALVE HAS BEEN MOVED FM ONE FUEL TANK POSITION TO ANOTHER IS APPROX 15 SECONDS. THE PLT WAS AWARE THAT NONE OF THE FUEL GAGES WERE WORKING ON THE ACFT.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:30 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftCessna 310J
Tail NumberN3037L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-470-U · Reciprocating · 260
Seats6
People & Injuries
Injury Summary3 injuries (3 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious3
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 30 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind120° @ 6 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point48
Altimeter0