Early in my multi-engine flight training in the Cessna 310, the instructor and I practiced the required maneuvers, including loss of an engine on takeoff, as well as an engine failure in cruise. To this day I remember Dave telling me to consider a cruise engine failure just as seriously as the one at takeoff from one simple perspective—that whatever killed the first engine might soon claim the second.
Citation 550 Crew Experiences Double Engine Failure
Key Takeaways:
- A chartered Cessna Citation 550 experienced a total dual engine failure during an air ambulance flight, but the crew successfully performed a no-engine landing without injuries.
- The NTSB investigation revealed that the engine failures were caused by fuel contamination with Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), which was mistakenly mixed into the Jet-A fuel instead of a fuel system icing inhibitor (FSII).
- DEF reacts with fuel to form crystalline deposits that clog filters and fuel system components, leading to engine power loss, and the NTSB has identified similar contamination incidents at other airports.
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