De Havilland DHC 2
Igiugig, AK — September 20, 2018
Event Information
| Date | September 20, 2018 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA18CA565 |
| Event ID | 20180924X40449 |
| Location | Igiugig, AK |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 59.32500, -155.90083 |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | De Havilland |
| Model | DHC 2 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 6 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot’s selection of an empty fuel tank for takeoff, which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent total loss of engine power.
Full Narrative
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.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.