20150705014149A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Colonial C-1 · Chico, TX · July 5, 2015

Date: July 5, 2015 · 19:26 local
Place: Chico, TX
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N257B
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN15LA296
Reported as: Colonial C-1
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,200 total12 in this make and model30 in the last 90 days

N257BRegistration cancelled May 3, 2018 · Colonial C-1S/N 17 · Built 1956 Airframe modelColonial C-1 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 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.

The owner topped off the single fuel tanks four days prior to the accident. The pilot stated he flew "8 to 10 times".

Aircrasft was in cruise flight when the engine quit. The pilot noted the fuel pressure was on "zero". Aircraft landed in open field and was substancially damaged. No fuel was found in fuel tank.

The engine started and ran normally when supplied with fuel.

As the FAA filed it

THE OWNER TOPPED OFF THE SINGLE FUEL TANKS FOUR DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED HE FLEW "8 TO 10 TIMES".

AIRCRASFT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT NOTED THE FUEL PRESSURE WAS ON "ZERO". AIRCRAFT LANDED IN OPEN FIELD AND WAS SUBSTANCIALLY DAMAGED. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN FUEL TANK.

THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY WHEN SUPPLIED WITH 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.

NTSB CEN15LA296Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportChico, TXA loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the unsnapped fuel bladder, which resulted in an inaccurate fuel quantity indication, and the pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning, during which he relied solely on the fuel…Jul 5, 2015 · Substantial damage