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Hickman's Accident: NTSB Probable Cause Report
The NTSB's probable cause report is now out on Dave Hickman's accident:
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20060522X00601&key=1
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?id=NYC06LA112&rpt=fi
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed after takeoff to preclude a stall, which resulted in a loss of control and an inadvertent stall. Factors associated with the accident are the inadvertent stall, the loss of engine power due to the pilot's inadvertent activation of the high pressure auxiliary fuel pump, and the pilot's failure to abort the takeoff after receiving abnormal engine and fuel flow warnings on the primary flight display.
IMHO, I find it difficult to believe that accidentally activating the auxiliary fuel pump will cause the fuel flow to increase approximately 10 gallons/hour (see detailed report) and cause the engine to fail. I read the report a few times and cannot find any testing of the engine fuel pump. Only the electric/auxiliary fuel pump was tested based on the report.
Has any IV drivers here ever accidentally switched the aux fuel pump on while in flight? What happened?
-Rick
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