Austin - Fort Worth

The airplane was fueled with 65-gallons of jet-A in preparation for the evening's flight. The 6,600-hour pilot stated that no abnormalities were noted during the engine start, and takeoff. However; shortly after departure, and after the pilot had leveled off at 7,000-feet, he reported to air traffic control that he had an engine failure and a total power loss. During the descent, the pilot attempted both an air and battery engine restart, but was not successful. The inspection on the engine was conducted on November 30, 2005. The accessory gearbox had a reddish-brown stain visible beneath the fuel pump/fuel control unit. The accessory gearbox was turned; rotation of the drive splines in the fuel pump (splines for the fuel control unit) was not observed. The fuel pump unit was then removed, the area between the fuel pump and accessory gearbox was stained with a reddish brown color. The fuel pump drive splines were worn. Additionally, the internal splines on the fuel pump drive coupling were worn. The wear on the spline drive and coupling prevented full engagement of the spline drives. Both pieces had evidence of fretting, with a reddish brown material present. The airplane had approximately 130 hours since a maintenance inspection (which included inspection of the fuel pump). The engine had accumulated approximately a total time of 9,852 hours, with 5,574 hours since overhaul.

Flight / Schedule

Austin - Fort Worth

Registration

N978FE

MSN

208B-0105

Year of Manufacture

1988

Date

October 18, 2005 at 11:15 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Cargo

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

City

Crash Location

Round Rock Texas

Region

North America • United States of America

Coordinates

30.5086°, -97.6788°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On October 18, 2005 at 11:15 PM, Austin - Fort Worth experienced a crash involving Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, operated by Federal Express - FedEx, with the event recorded near Round Rock Texas.

The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was flight at a city crash site.

1 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The airplane was fueled with 65-gallons of jet-A in preparation for the evening's flight. The 6,600-hour pilot stated that no abnormalities were noted during the engine start, and takeoff. However; shortly after departure, and after the pilot had leveled off at 7,000-feet, he reported to air traffic control that he had an engine failure and a total power loss. During the descent, the pilot attempted both an air and battery engine restart, but was not successful. The inspection on the engine was conducted on November 30, 2005. The accessory gearbox had a reddish-brown stain visible beneath the fuel pump/fuel control unit. The accessory gearbox was turned; rotation of the drive splines in the fuel pump (splines for the fuel control unit) was not observed. The fuel pump unit was then removed, the area between the fuel pump and accessory gearbox was stained with a reddish brown color. The fuel pump drive splines were worn. Additionally, the internal splines on the fuel pump drive coupling were worn. The wear on the spline drive and coupling prevented full engagement of the spline drives. Both pieces had evidence of fretting, with a reddish brown material present. The airplane had approximately 130 hours since a maintenance inspection (which included inspection of the fuel pump). The engine had accumulated approximately a total time of 9,852 hours, with 5,574 hours since overhaul.

Aircraft reference details include registration N978FE, MSN 208B-0105, year of manufacture 1988.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 30.5086°, -97.6788°.

Fatalities

Total

0

Crew

0

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The airplane was fueled with 65-gallons of jet-A in preparation for the evening's flight. The 6,600-hour pilot stated that no abnormalities were noted during the engine start, and takeoff. However; shortly after departure, and after the pilot had leveled off at 7,000-feet, he reported to air traffic control that he had an engine failure and a total power loss. During the descent, the pilot attempted both an air and battery engine restart, but was not successful. The inspection on the engine was conducted on November 30, 2005. The accessory gearbox had a reddish-brown stain visible beneath the fuel pump/fuel control unit. The accessory gearbox was turned; rotation of the drive splines in the fuel pump (splines for the fuel control unit) was not observed. The fuel pump unit was then removed, the area between the fuel pump and accessory gearbox was stained with a reddish brown color. The fuel pump drive splines were worn. Additionally, the internal splines on the fuel pump drive coupling were worn. The wear on the spline drive and coupling prevented full engagement of the spline drives. Both pieces had evidence of fretting, with a reddish brown material present. The airplane had approximately 130 hours since a maintenance inspection (which included inspection of the fuel pump). The engine had accumulated approximately a total time of 9,852 hours, with 5,574 hours since overhaul.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

1

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

1

Fatality Rate

0.0%

Known people on board: 1

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Austin - Fort Worth

Flight Type

Cargo

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

City

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Registration

N978FE

MSN

208B-0105

Year of Manufacture

1988