# Accident 20090825025439A: Navion NAVION G, Eau Claire, MI, August 25, 2009 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 25, 2009, 09:20 local time - Place: Eau Claire, MI - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 42.0356° N, 86.4686° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0356&lon=-86.4686&mi=10 - Aircraft: N2418T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2418T-2017-07-20) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Navion NAVION G (registry code 6150120, https://openairdocs.org/model/navion-navion-g) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental I0-470 series (registry code 17027, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NAVION NAVION G - Reported engine: CONT MOTOR I0-470 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 1 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - Pilot flight hours: 943 total, 900 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09CA559](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA559) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090825025439A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT HE DEPARTED BERRIEN SPRINGS, MI FOR A SHORT FLIGHT PRIOR TO RETURN TO BERRIEN SPRINGS. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT OPERATES THE AIRCRAFT EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS FOR LESS THAN AN HOUR RATHER THAN TO LET THE AIRCRAFT SIT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SAID, " I OBVIOUSLY DONT FLY THE AIRCRAFT ENOUGH TO BE PROFICIENT.^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT DURING TAKE-OFF THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON "MAIN" WITH BOOST PUMP ON HIGH. AT CRUISE HE SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT TIP TANK THEN SHORTLY AFTER THE ENGINE STOPPED. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT HE THEN SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO "MAIN" AND PUSHED THE MIXTURE IN. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SAID, " WITH THE ENGINE WINDMILLING I FIGURED IT WOULD HAVE STARTED." ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DID NOT INDICATE THAT HE ACTUATED THE AIRCRAFT STARTER IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE AFTER SWITCHING FROM THE RIGHT TIP TANK TO THE MAIN TANKS. WHEN ASKED IF HE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DID A PHYSICAL INSPECTION OF FUEL QUANTITY IN ALL TANKS PRIOR TO FLIGHT HE SAID, "NO I DID NOT." I HAVE A SYSTEM IN THE AIRCRAFT THAT SHOWS TOTAL FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT. I JUST ASSUME THERE IS 15 GALLONS IN EACH TIP TANK."^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ADMITTED THAT HE DID NOT SET THE BOOST PUMP TO HIGH AFTER THE ENGINE STOPPED. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^STATED THAT HE GLIDED ALONG THE TREE LINE IN EAU CLAIRE, MI THEN ATTEMPTED A LEFT TURN TO BASE LEG WHICH RESULTED IN IMPACT WITH THE GROUND PRIOR TO TURNING FINAL. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DID NOT EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR PRIOR TO IMPACT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT ALTITUDE HE WAS CRUISING AT WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SAID, " I WAS NOT CONCERNED WITH MY ALTITUDE."THE RIGHT MAIN TANK WAS DIP CHECKED AFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS RAISED AND LEVELED. APPROXIMATELY 2.5 INCHES OF FUEL WAS INDICATED WHICH WOULD BE IN EXCESS OF 4 INCHES AT COMMON CENTER BETWEEN RIGHT AND LEFT MAIN TANKS. CHECK OF THE RIGHT TIP TANK REVEALED TRACE AMOUNTS OF FUEL. THE ENGINE MOUNTED FUEL PUMP WAS REMOVED AND INSPECTED. THE FUEL PUMP ROTATED FREELY. THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINES SHOWED SIGNS OF TRACE AMOUNTS OF FUEL. THE SHEAR SHAFT WAS NOT SHEARED. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED, "IT MUST HAVE BEEN SUCKING AIR FROM THE EMPTY TANK. IF I HAD ANOTHER 5 GALLONS OF FUEL I WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY." ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CEN09CA559](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA559), Aug 25, 2009: Navion Navion G (N2418T), Eau Claire, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel management. ## Other reports on N2418T (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19830617029999I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830617029999I), Jun 17, 1983: Tmpson NAVIONG (N2418T), Osceola, AR, Minor damage. Landed gear up. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.