The pilot took off around 1530 to troubleshoot a landing gear anomaly. After departing the airport area, he cycled the landing gear, and upon getting questionable indications in the cockpit of gear position, he requested another aircraft confirm his landing gear configuration. Once he got the confirmation that all three wheels were down he proceeded back to the airport. About two miles from the airport and approximately 1800 feet agl, the right engine began to lose power. After troubleshooting the engine it regained some power, although he had lost some altitude. He raised the landing gear to reduce drag and entered the traffic pattern. At this point the left engine lost power, the airplane turned left, and he entered a descent to help maintain airspeed. The engine did not regain power, and the pilot had no altitude to exchange for airspeed, so he steered the airplane toward a residential street. At least two houses were struck before the airplane crash-landed on the street. An FAA inspector examined the airplane and stated there was very little evidence of fuel onboard the airplane. The pilot stated that the left engine had failed due to fuel starvation and that fuel was onboard but it was not in the right places.
June 1, 2007, Chandler, Ariz., Cessna 340A
The pilot took off around 1530 to troubleshoot a landing gear anomaly. After departing the airport area, he cycled the landing gear, and upon getting questionable indications in the cockpit of gear position, he requested another aircraft confirm his landing gear configuration. Once he got the confirmation that all three wheels were down he proceeded back to the airport.
Key Takeaways:
- The pilot departed to troubleshoot a landing gear anomaly, confirmed its position, and then returned towards the airport.
- During the return, the right engine lost power, followed by the complete failure of the left engine, leading to an emergency descent.
- The airplane crash-landed on a residential street after striking two houses, with an FAA inspector finding very little fuel onboard, indicating fuel starvation.
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