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Air Force Statement of Opinion |
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The Air Force Accident Board's Statement of Opinion concluded that King-56's engines quit because of "fuel starvation." The board couldn't determine what caused the fuel starvation. Note that the Statement of Opinion never mentions "electrical anomaly" as a cause---which is what the Air Force Safety Center cites in its brief description of the King-56 crash. |
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STATEMENT 0F OPINION UNDER 10 U.S.C. 2254(d) ANY OPINION OF THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATORS AS TO THE CAUSE OF, OR THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO, THE ACCIDENT SET FORTH IN THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REPORT MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED AS EVIDENCE IN ANY CIVIL OR CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS ARISING FROM AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT, NOR MAY SUCH INFORMATION BE CONSIDERED AN ADMISSION OF LIABILITY BY THE UNITED STATES OR BY ANY PERSON REFERRED TO IN THOSE CONCLUSIONS OR STATEMENTS. 1. In my opinion there is insufficient clear and convincing evidence to determine the ultimate cause of this accident. However, the accident resulted from fuel starvation to the engines which then ceased to operate. The cause of the fuel starvation is unknown. 2. The printout of the flight data recorder indicates a decrease in torque followed by a decrease in RPM on the number one engine. The Mishap Crew identified these decreases as well as a decrease in fuel flow and turbine inlet temperature as evidenced by the cockpit voice recorder transcript. These are the exact indications of an engine flame out (combustion ceased). The number one engine was the first to experience these indications, followed shortly by number two, then number four and lastly number three. 3. When the last engine stopped, all electrical and pneumatic power, except for emergency battery power, was lost. TSgt. Vogel testified all lights went out and all engines stopped. Also, at this point the flight data and cockpit voice recorders stopped recording. 4. Therefore, without electrical power the Mishap Crew was unable to restart the engines and the aircraft impacted the water. LARRY L. LANDTROOP, Colonel, USAF Accident Investigation Officer 21 April 1997 |
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