19980517016019A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Grtlks 2T-1A-2 · Tower, MN · May 17, 1998

Date: May 17, 1998 · 12:51 local
Place: Tower, MN
Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3803F
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI98LA157
Reported as: Grtlks 2T1A2
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,185 total232 in this make and model53 in the last 90 days

N3803FRegistered now · Great Lakes 2T-1A-2S/N 0771 · Built 1977 Airframe modelGreat Lakes 2T-1A-2 Engine modelLycoming AEIO-360 seriesReciprocating

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.

(.4)The pilot said that after takeoff, the airplane was in a climb at about 2,000 feet AGL and 3 miles north of the airport when he began a turn to the east. During the turn, the airplane's engine began to cut in and out. The pilot said that he immediately made a turn back toward the airport, and pushed all of the engine controls forward. The engine continued to surge in and out and then finally quit. The airplane was over a lake at that time. The pilot said that he turned to parallel the shore line, and the airplane touched down in the water about 100 feet from shore. Examination of the airplane's fuel system showed less than one quart of fuel between the fuel tank and the gascolator. No other anomalies with the airplane were found. (-23)aircraft lost power at 2000 feet, engine quit. Laned in lake vermillion (MN). Aircraft submerged (estimate 18 feet of water). Will investigate further when aircraft is retrieved. Will submit amendment 8020-23.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE WAS IN A CLIMB AT ABOUT 2,000 FEET AGL AND 3 MILES NORTH OF THE AIRPORT WHEN HE BEGAN A TURN TO THE EAST. DURING THE TURN, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO CUT IN AND OUT. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE IMMEDIATELY MADE A TURN BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT, AND PUSHED ALL OF THE ENGINE CONTROLS FORWARD. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SURGE IN AND OUT AND THEN FINALLY QUIT. THE AIRPLANE WAS OVER A LAKE AT THAT TIME. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE TURNED TO PARALLEL THE SHORE LINE, AND THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN THE WATER ABOUT 100 FEET FROM SHORE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SYSTEM SHOWED LESS THAN ONE QUART OF FUEL BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND THE GASCOLATOR. NO OTHER ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE WERE FOUND. (-23)AIRCRAFT LOST POWER AT 2000 FEET, ENGINE QUIT. LANED IN LAKE VERMILLION (MN). AIRCRAFT SUBMERGED (ESTIMATE 18 FEET OF WATER). WILL INVESTIGATE FURTHER WHEN AIRCRAFT IS RETRIEVED. WILL SUBMIT AMENDMENT 8020-23.

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 CHI98LA157Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportTower, MNthe pilot's inadequate preflight of the airplane's fuel system, and fuel exhaustion, which resulted in a loss of engine power, due to an inadequate supply of fuel.May 17, 1998 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N3803F · 4

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

Incident 19860509029959IDescent · Goodyear, AZWhile practicing within practice area two F16S passed within 500 feet.May 9, 1986 Incident 19810422030449IRoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Goodyear, AZPilot was unfamiliar with aircraft; applied brakes too hard and nosed over.Apr 22, 1981 · Minor damage Incident 19780824048839IRoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Goodyear, AZGo around by instructor after swerve. On second touchdown directional control could not be maintained.Aug 24, 1978 · Minor damage Incident 19780505032119IRoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Goodyear, AZPilot lost directional control on roll out, ran off side of runway.May 5, 1978 · Minor damage