Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120; Flight Crew Total 660; Flight Crew Type 120
Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft; Human Factors
The airplane had been sitting for about 3 hours before I initiated the flight. The passengers were boarded and I started the engine; and began to taxi. I proceeded to do my normal run up and taxied to the approach end of the runway. I noticed the fuel gauge for the right tip tank (the one that I had selected) was reading low however I filled the two tip tanks within 0.6 Hobbs time and there should have been enough fuel to continue the flight. I began my roll out onto the runway and pushed the throttle to the full position; gained airspeed and took off. Upon reaching about 300-400 FT AGL as I was adjusting the mixture throttle and prop to the climb performance setting; the engine began to sputter; I added full power and the engine power came back briefly. Then the engine gave out completely. I noticed the airspeed decrease dramatically so I pitched down to regain my airspeed and I switched from the left tip tank to the right tip tank; and tried to engage the starter as I was pitching down. Once in a nose low pitch attitude I saw that I only had about a 1;000 FT of runway left so I aimed for a landing point and with my airspeed still slow I pulled back to flare over the runway which resulted in a hard landing.
Single engine Part 135 pilot experiences engine failure shortly after takeoff and lands straight ahead on the 8;600 FT departure runway. Takeoff was initiated with the fuel selector to the right wingtip tank which indicated low but should have contained sufficient fuel; a hard landing results.