Ground Crews Had Run Engines 45 Minutes Prior To Takeoff

A flight that was supposed to have been a routine check of some avionics issues ended with the airplane running out of fuel, even though the pilot had visually checked the fuel levels prior to the flight.

The NTSB has released its factual report in an accident which occurred November 9, 2009, on approach to Greenville Spartanburg International Airport (KGSP) at 1009 EST. A Hawker Beechcraft B200, N337MT, was substantially damaged following a loss of engine power and impact with terrain on final approach to Greenville Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), Greer, South Carolina. The airplane was registered to MDTR Holdings LLC, Virginia Beach, Virginia. The airline transport-rated pilot and two passengers were seriously injured. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated at GSP at 0938.

An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the accident pilot flew the airplane to Stevens Aviation on the afternoon of November 8 and turned the airplane in for a phase inspection. He returned to the airplane the next morning to evaluate some avionics issues and flew a local flight to do the same.

Air traffic control records provided by the Greer Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) revealed that the pilot requested taxi clearance at 0938, and the flight was cleared for takeoff at 0943. At 1007, while on final approach to runway 4, the approach controller informed the pilot of N337MT that he was overtaking a Beech Baron, and the pilot responded that he needed to keep his speed up and that he was low on fuel. At 1009, ATC reported that the airplane had crashed.

After recovering from his injuries, the pilot was interviewed by the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC). The pilot reported that on the day of the accident, he arrived about 0800 and performed his preflight, accomplishing the preflight and before engine starting checklists. When he performed his preflight, there were 740 pounds of fuel on board, enough for 1 hour and 10 minutes flying time. He was going to fly the airplane to evaluate some avionics, however the avionics technicians who were to fly with him had not arrived, so he went inside the repair facility to wait. He reported that, in the meantime, and unbeknownst to him, a 45-minute ground engine run was performed on the accident airplane. After the avionics technicians arrived, they proceeded to the airplane and flew in the local area to evaluate the avionics. While on approach for landing, the right engine quit, and then the left engine quit. He thought he could make the runway, but there was a 15-knot headwind. He established best glide configuration with gear and flaps up. He saw the approach lights, and turned to avoid them. The airplane impacted the ground and came to a stop.

Beechcraft B200 File Photo

The pilot stated that he referred to the flight management system (FMS) fuel totalizer on the ground and in flight, and assumed that the mechanics that performed the ground run did not turn the FMS on during the engine ground run. He stated that if the FMS was not turned on during the engine run, the FMS fuel totalizer would not reflect any fuel burned during the engine run. He did not refer to the airplane fuel gauges after he returned to the airplane for the flight; he only utilized the FMS totalizer.

The two mechanics who performed the engine run prior to the accident flight reported that they checked the fuel on board at the conclusion of the engine run. The auxiliary fuel tanks were empty, and the main tanks each indicated approximately 200 pounds of fuel. They reported that the engines were operated for 30 to 35 minutes with the majority of the run at low power settings. High power settings were used for less than 5 minutes.

The Chief Inspector for Stevens Aviation reported that, prior to the accident flight, the technicians performed the ground run, moved the airplane to a hangar, and prepared to connect the airplane to a tow bar to pull it into the hangar. He was aware that the airplane had some avionics issues. He recalled that two avionics technicians went out to the airplane, and the next thing he heard was that there had been a crash. He was not told that the airplane was going to fly and does not know how that decision was made. He reported that Stevens Aviation uses a procedure to install an external placard, or “red tag,” on the outside of the airplane before maintenance begins, but no repairs had been started on airplane. The red tag is generally installed after the engine run and the airplane has been moved into the hangar and placed on jacks.

Personnel Information
The pilot was a certificated airline transport pilot, flight instructor, aircraft dispatcher, ground instructor, and flight engineer. He held a first-class medical certificate that was issued on October 15, 2009. He reported a total of 15,751 flight hours. His most recent flight review was in the FlightSafety International B200 simulator on May 23, 2009.

Aircraft Information
The airplane was a Hawker Beechcraft Corporation B200, serial number BB-1628, equipped with two Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A-42 engines. The airplane had a maximum gross weight of 12,500 pounds. The last documented inspection prior to the day of the accident was on April 23, 2009 at 2,990.1 hours total time. The airplane had a total time of 3,060 hours at the time of the accident.

The FMS screen was mounted on the center instrument panel of the accident airplane; the airplane fuel gauges were mounted on the left cockpit wall, above the circuit breaker panel.

The B200 Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) addresses takeoff with a low fuel condition. In Chapter 2 (Limitations - Fuel Management), the following statement is published, “Fuel gages in the yellow arc - Do not take off if the fuel quantity gages indicate in yellow arc or indicate less than 265 pounds of fuel in each main tank system.”

Meteorological Information
The 0953 weather observation for GSP included the following: sky clear, surface winds from 020 degrees at 4 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, temperature 14 degrees Celsius, dew point 7 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.39 inches of mercury.

Wreckage and Impact Information
Following the accident, the FAA inspector responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. Her inspection revealed that there was no fuel in the main or auxiliary fuel tanks. The tanks were not breached and there was no evidence of fuel leaks. The wings were removed during the recovery of the wreckage and only residual fuel was observed.

Maintenance-installed seat covers were found on the two pilot seats. The shoulder harnesses were found under the seat covers and there was no evidence of their use during the accident flight.

The wreckage was recovered to a storage facility in Griffin, Georgia, where an examination was performed by the NTSB IIC. The examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preexisting mechanical anomalies.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov