What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot departed his private airport (turf runway) for a local flight. The fuel selector was placed in the left tank selection. The selector was not fully seated in the left position. At approximately 300 to 400 feet of altitude, the engine quit. The pilot made a left turn into an open field. On touchdown, the nose gear collapsed, and the aircraft flipped on it's back. The aircraft was destroyed. Upon examination, there was no evidence of any system failure. There were no injuries to personal or property. The right fuel tank contained automotive fuel. The aircraft does not have an STC for automotive fuel.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT DEPARTED HIS PRIVATE AIRPORT (TURF RUNWAY) FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS PLACED IN THE LEFT TANK SELECTION. THE SELECTOR WAS NOT FULLY SEATED IN THE LEFT POSITION. AT APPROXIMATELY 300 TO 400 FEET OF ALTITUDE, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT MADE A LEFT TURN INTO AN OPEN FIELD. ON TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED ON IT'S BACK. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. UPON EXAMINATION, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY SYSTEM FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO PERSONAL OR PROPERTY. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED AUTOMOTIVE FUEL. THE AIRCRAFT DOES NOT HAVE AN STC FOR AUTOMOTIVE FUEL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N3818P · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.