NTSB CAROL · Event
Event CHI90LA139
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S EXECUTION OF A TURN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF RESULTING IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S EXECUTION OF A TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION OF THE SECOND ENGINE WHICH RESULTED IN A FORCED LANDING.
Factual narrative
DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB, PILOT WAS IN RIGHT TURN AT 100 FEET AGL AND 140 MPH WHEN POWER WAS LOST IN THE LEFT ENGINE. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN TO THE LEFT TO RETURN TO THE FIELD AND LOST POWER IN THE RIGHT ENGINE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED TANKS IN EACH WING WERE APPROXIMATELY ONE-HALF FULL. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN EITHER ENGINE FROM ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP TO FLOW DIVIDER. TURNING TAKEOFFS ARE A PROHIBITED MANEUVER IN THIS AIRCRAFT DUE TO THE UNBAFFLED TANK CONFIGURATION. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1990_CHI90LA139.txt.
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