Summary
On September 20, 2018, a De Havilland DHC 2 (N121AK) was involved in an accident near Igiugig, AK. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury, with 6 people uninjured out of 7 aboard. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot’s selection of an empty fuel tank for takeoff, which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent total loss of engine power.
The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, during the initial climb after a water takeoff, about 200 ft, he turned right, and the engine lost power. He immediately switched fuel tanks and attempted to restart the engine to no avail. The airplane descended and struck trees, the right wing impacted terrain.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector that, during the initial climb, after the engine lost power, he noticed that the center tank, which was selected for takeoff, was empty.
This accident is documented in NTSB report GAA18CA565. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N121AK.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s selection of an empty fuel tank for takeoff, which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent total loss of engine power.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, during the initial climb after a water takeoff, about 200 ft, he turned right, and the engine lost power. He immediately switched fuel tanks and attempted to restart the engine to no avail. The airplane descended and struck trees, the right wing impacted terrain.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector that, during the initial climb, after the engine lost power, he noticed that the center tank, which was selected for takeoff, was empty. He added that passengers stated that the engine did regain power after switching tanks, but the airplane had already struck trees.
The pilot reported as a recommendation to more closely follow checklists.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA18CA565