19961012032189A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Amtr Lancair · Kansas City, MO · October 12, 1996

Date: October 12, 1996 · 11:08 local
Place: Kansas City, MO
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N90WH
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI97LA009
Reported as: Amtr Lancair
Reported engine: Lycoming O235L2C
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 406 total42 in this make and model28 in the last 90 days

N90WHRegistration cancelled Sep 6, 2012 · Hayes George W LANCAIR 235S/N 101920 · Built 1991 Airframe modelHayes George W LANCAIR 235 Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Aircraft engine faile and pilot made emergency landing in a field. (.4) the pilot stated he took off with 8 to 10 gallons of fuel which should have been enough for approximately 1 1/2 hours of flight time. Fifteen minutes after takeoff, he noticed the fuel sight gauge was indicating a low level of fuel. He reversed course to head back to the airport. He stated that fuel exhaustion occurred eight minutes later. The airplane was substantially damaged during the off airport landing in a field. Inspection revealed a total of one cup of fuel between both wing tanks and the fuel level in the center tank was below the pick-up line level. The pilot stated he later tested the fuel system and discovered that the carburetor float valve was stuck in the open position.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT ENGINE FAILE AND PILOT MADE EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD. (.4) THE PILOT STATED HE TOOK OFF WITH 8 TO 10 GALLONS OF FUEL WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME. FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, HE NOTICED THE FUEL SIGHT GAUGE WAS INDICATING A LOW LEVEL OF FUEL. HE REVERSED COURSE TO HEAD BACK TO THE AIRPORT. HE STATED THAT FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED EIGHT MINUTES LATER. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING THE OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN A FIELD. INSPECTION REVEALED A TOTAL OF ONE CUP OF FUEL BETWEEN BOTH WING TANKS AND THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE CENTER TANK WAS BELOW THE PICK-UP LINE LEVEL. THE PILOT STATED HE LATER TESTED THE FUEL SYSTEM AND DISCOVERED THAT THE CARBURETOR FLOAT VALVE WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI97LA009Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportKansas City, MOa stuck carburetor float valve which resulted in excessive fuel flow and ultimately fuel exhaustion. A factor related to the accident was the rough terrain on which the forced landing was made.Oct 12, 1996 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N90WH · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19960707025379ILevel Off Touchdown · Denver, CONarrative: aircraft was making touch and go at apa. PIC became distracted due to radio traffic. Aircraft landed with gear in up position. PIC admitted that this was his fault. [privacy data omitted]Jul 7, 1996 · Minor damage Incident 19911220060209IFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Ramona, CAExperienced engine roughness in flight. Forced landing in flight. Possibility of a clogged in-line fuel filter.Dec 20, 1991 · Reported as Amtrnc 235LANCAIR · Minor damage