20030528012639A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Amtr MURPHY REBEL · Clear Lake, CA · May 28, 2003

Date: May 28, 2003 · 12:55 local
Place: Clear Lake, CA
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N6324H
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX03LA169
Reported as: Amtr Murphyrebel
Reported engine: Lycoming O290*
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,067 total175 in this make and model40 in the last 90 days

N6324HRegistered now · Callahan James E MURPHY REBELS/N 180R · Built 2000 Airframe modelCallahan James E MURPHY REBEL Engine modelLycoming 0-290 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.

(-23) During the preflight, the pilot forgot to switch the left tank fuel selector to the on position. He departed roseburg, Oregon enroute to novato, California. During cruise, the engine lost power and the aircraft began losing altitude. The pilot initiated an emergency landing which resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft and serious injuries to himself.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) DURING THE PREFLIGHT, THE PILOT FORGOT TO SWITCH THE LEFT TANK FUEL SELECTOR TO THE ON POSITION. HE DEPARTED ROSEBURG, OREGON ENROUTE TO NOVATO, CALIFORNIA. DURING CRUISE, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE. THE PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AND SERIOUS INJURIES TO HIMSELF.

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 LAX03LA169Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportClearlake, CAfuel starvation due to the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and failure to correctly position the right fuel valve. Also causal was the pilot's failure to use the checklist.May 28, 2003 · Substantial damage