# Accident 20160304001789A: Ariosto James J ARIOSTO MUSTANG II, Normangee, TX, March 4, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 4, 2016, 12:30 local time
- Place: Normangee, TX
- Airport: Hilltop Lakes
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.0558° N, 96.2506° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0558&lon=-96.2506&mi=10
- Aircraft: N12JA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12JA-2018-02-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Ariosto James J ARIOSTO MUSTANG II (registry code 16906B1, https://openairdocs.org/model/ariosto-james-j-ariosto-mustang-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ARIOSTO JAMES J ARIOSTO MUSTANG II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-320 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN16LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA121) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160304001789A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

GROUND MARK INDICATIONS SHOW THE LEFT HAND WING STRIKING THE GROUND FIRST. AN INDICATION OF THE LEFT HAND MAIN LANDING GEAR AND THEN THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE AFTER THAT. EVIDENCE OF ONLY ONE PROPELLER BLADE STRIKING THE GROUND WAS FOUND.

THE MARKS INDICATE A GENERAL HEADING OF NORTH EAST, AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON A HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST.

THE AIRCRAFT LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS FOLDED BENEATH THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT THROTTLE AND MIXTURE WERE FULL FORWARD, MECHANICAL GYRO WAS SHOWING FIFTYFIVE DEGREES LEFT WING DOWN. THE ENGINE HAD LUBRICANT AND THE OIL QUANITY TUBE WAS BROKEN OFF OF THE BLOCK. THE POWERPLANT, MOUNT, AND FIREWALL WAS SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE. THE PROPELLER HAD A SINGLE BLADE BROKEN, SPLINTERED BACKWARDS. THE RIGHT WING HAD FUEL OF AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY. THE ELT WAS SET TO OFF.

IN SUMMARY:

THE AIRCRAFT PIC WAS INTERVIEWED BY HOUSTON FSDO INSPECTORS ON 03/15/2016 AT HIS RESIDENCE AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30AM. HE STATED DURING THE INTERVIEW,  HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE THE FUEL DRAW/SUPPLY, FROM THE LEFT WING TANK TO THE RIGHT WING TANK BUT, STARVED THE ENGINE IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE OF A NEW MODIFICATION TO THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE SYSTEM. THE NEW OR MIDDLE VALVE IN THE SYSTEM, WAS ADDED BY THE OPERATOR.

THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE INVOLVED WITH THIS INCIDENT IS THE ENGINE OFF OF HIS VANS

RV-8, N57GK. THE ENGINE IS A LYCOMING 0320-E3D, SERIAL NUMBER L-39247-27A. HE STATED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE WAY THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING AT THE TIME, IT QUIT BECAUSE OF IMPROPER FUEL VALVE SEQUENCE/MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES CARRIED OUT BY HIM.

THE OPERATOR SAID THAT THIS FLIGHT, WAS A TEST FLIGHT FOR THE ENGINE CHANGE AND FUEL SYSTEM MODIFICATION.

## 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 CEN16LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA121), Mar 4, 2016: Ariosto James J Ariosto Mustang II (N12JA), Normangee, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's improper fuel selector positioning procedures during the flight.

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.

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