Small Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 98; Flight Crew Total 3280; Flight Crew Type 122
Training / Qualification; Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Passenger Misconduct; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Aircraft
While in cruise at 11;000 feet just before passing a large airport my passenger in the right front seat was complaining of being too cold. He mentioned that there was a great amount of air blowing in and making it very cold for him. I reached over and would concur that it was very cold. I showed him where the firewall air shut off was (just under the yoke in front of him not visible to him). Upon pulling it out the air volume blowing decreased significantly. He said that it was better yet there was still more cold air coming out. I thought that the matter was dealt with and settled. A few minutes passed and I was looking out the window on my side and all of the sudden the engine lost power and quit. I immediately asked what did he do and he said I'm sorry I just pulled this lever. He had pulled the firewall fuel shut-off. [It] is the same as the Firewall Air Shut Off and similar in color. I immediately realized what he did and I went through shut down procedures and radioed Approach [giving them] my tail number and explained that my engine quit.  Approach gave me vectors to the nearest airport and I told them that I was going to continue straight and begin an engine restart. I began an engine restart and the engine did restart and all the engine parameters; numbers came back up to normal and I radioed Approach and told them everything looked OK I was climbing and would not be needing any assistance. During the incident I had descended from 11;000 feet to 9;700 feet while trying to re-trim and establish shut down procedures and restart. The rest of the flight went well without any other surprises or problems.I will from now on during my passenger brief establish that the passengers are not to move; pull/push any levers controls or switches. I was also thankful that I had just completed my Flight Procedures Training [recently] where Emergency Procedures was practiced several times. I truly believe that that training helped me keep my head and was able to do the shut down and restart from memory under a significantly intense situation.
A Kodiak 100 pilot flying with a friend became cold at 11;000 feet. The pilot instructed the passenger to close the Firewall air shutoff. The passenger closed the Firewall Fuel Shutoff; next to the air shutoff; which fuel starved the engine. The pilot successfully restarted the engine.