# Accident 20180418010549A: Wilhelm Ray PULSAR III, Salton Sea, CA, April 18, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 18, 2018, 09:58 local time
- Place: Salton Sea, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.2442° N, 115.9242° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2442&lon=-115.9242&mi=10
- Aircraft: N332RP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N332RP-2021-08-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Wilhelm Ray PULSAR III (registry code 05607H5, https://openairdocs.org/model/wilhelm-ray-pulsar-iii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WILHELM RAY PULSAR III
- Reported engine: JABIRU 300 33A18
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 884 total, 764 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR18TA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18TA122) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180418010549A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS FLYING AT 7800 FT AGL IN THE THERMAL (KTRM) AREA WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED. PILOT CHECKED HIS FUEL PRESSURE AND IT SHOWED 2.2 PSI. THERE WAS 13 GALLONS ON BOARD. PILOT TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE START WAS ERRACTIC AND IT STOPPED AGAIN. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE ENGINE, PILOT DECIDED TO TRIED FOR THE NEAREST AIRPORT, SALTON SEA (KSAS). THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST 1.5 MILES SHORT OF THE AIRPORT. PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN ROUGH DESERT TERRAIN. NO FUEL LEAKAGE, SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT AND MINOR INJURY TO PILOT'S HAND. UPON EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE, WE FOUND AN EMPTY LEFT FUEL TANK, THE RIGHT TANK HAD ABOUT 13 GALLONS OF FUEL. WE CHECKED THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PILOT HAD SELECTED THE LEFT TANK POSITION, RUNNING THE TANK DRY.

## 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 WPR18TA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18TA122), Apr 18, 2018: Wilhelm Puslar (N332RP), Salton City, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to perform the loss of engine power…

## Other reports on N332RP (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19991214038479I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991214038479I), Dec 14, 1999: Amtr PULSAR (N332RP), Chino, CA, Minor damage. After touch down aircraft rolled 300-400 feet when left fiberglass/composite landing gear leg broke off at junction to left axle assembly. Aircraft exited…

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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