N200AK

On June 13, 2007, about 0856 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350 airplane, N200AK, sustained substantial damage when the airplane landed without the landing gear fully extended at the Tuluksak Airport, Tuluksak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Frontier Flying Service Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The commercial certificated pilot and the eight passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on June 13, the general manager for the operator said the flight departed Aniak, Alaska, en route to Bethel, Alaska, with an intermediate stop at Kalskag, Alaska. The total distance is about 85 miles. According to the general manager, after departing Kalskag, the pilot noted a low fuel warning light on the enunciator panel. He said shortly thereafter the right engine quit, and after securing the engine, the pilot diverted the flight to Tuluksak, about halfway between Kalskag and Bethel. He said on final approach of the single-engine landing, the pilot lowered the landing gear, but the gear did not have time to fully extend prior to touchdown. He said the landing gear collapsed, damaging the associated airframe attachment structure, and contact with terrain damaged portions of the right wing.

In a written statement to the NTSB, the pilot reported that during cruise flight the left engine fuel pressure light illuminated, he turned on the emergency pump and switched tanks, the light went out, and he turned the airplane toward the nearest airport. He wrote that a few minutes later the right engine fuel pressure light illuminated, he turned on the emergency pump and switched tanks, the light did not extinguish, and when the engine began to surge he shut the engine down, and feathered the propeller. He reported that on short final the left engine began to surge, and he put the gear extension handle in the down position, but the gear failed to fully extend and lock prior to touchdown. The pilot indicated that according to his fuel calculations, the airplane should have had 1.2 hours of fuel onboard for the 30 minute flight.

An FAA air safety inspector who witnessed the defueling of the airplane after the accident, reported to the NTSB IIC that approximately 1 cup of fuel was drained from the left main tank, 1 cup from the left outboard tank, 1 gallon from the right main tank, and 2 gallons from the right outboard tank. The pilot operating manual states that the fuel capacity of the airplane is 192 gallons, and that 182 gallons is usable.