What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 01/18/2020 student pilot privacy data omitted, privacy data omitted went on a solo cross country Flight from brown field (sdm) to French Valley (F70). While in descent to F70 privacy data omitted ran out of fuel about 1/2 mile from the airport and landed in a nearby field. The aircraft was towed to (F70) to a maintenance facility. Upon inspection from privacy data omitted owner of southland Rotax center, it was determined the aircraft (922HT) did not take on any damage from the off field landing.
privacy data omitted Stated that the gascolator valve was left in the open position when he inspected the aircraft. It was privacy data omitted belief that this caused the fuel starvation of the engine. With the valve left open fuel will leak while the engine is running. Over the course of the Flight fuel most likely was dripping due to the open valve until it ran dry.
Inspector privacy data omitted was given the investigation into the incident and spoke with privacy data omitted. privacy data omitted Stated that the mechanic told him about the gascolator valve being left open. privacy data omitted Understood what happened and stated that the glass to check if the valve was open was dirty and he could not tell if the valve was open or closed. He had the glass replaced and now checks the valve each time before each Flight.
Upon review of privacy data omitted solo endorsements, it was found that he was not authorized to fly the solo cross country Flight on 01/18/2020. Inspector privacy data omitted spoke with privacy data omitted instructor, privacy data omitted who submitted an email exchange stating he needed to be endorsed for the Flight before he took off. privacy data omitted Did not respond to his instructor's email and went on the Flight.
As the FAA filed it
ON 01/18/2020 STUDENT PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WENT ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM BROWN FIELD (SDM) TO FRENCH VALLEY (F70). WHILE IN DESCENT TO F70 ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ RAN OUT OF FUEL ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE AIRPORT AND LANDED IN A NEARBY FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOWED TO (F70) TO A MAINTENANCE FACILITY. UPON INSPECTION FROM ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ OWNER OF SOUTHLAND ROTAX CENTER, IT WAS DETERMINED THE AIRCRAFT (922HT) DID NOT TAKE ON ANY DAMAGE FROM THE OFF FIELD LANDING.
^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT THE GASCOLATOR VALVE WAS LEFT IN THE OPEN POSITION WHEN HE INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT. IT WAS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ BELIEF THAT THIS CAUSED THE FUEL STARVATION OF THE ENGINE. WITH THE VALVE LEFT OPEN FUEL WILL LEAK WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. OVER THE COURSE OF THE FLIGHT FUEL MOST LIKELY WAS DRIPPING DUE TO THE OPEN VALVE UNTIL IT RAN DRY.
INSPECTOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS GIVEN THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT AND SPOKE WITH ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM ABOUT THE GASCOLATOR VALVE BEING LEFT OPEN. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ UNDERSTOOD WHAT HAPPENED AND STATED THAT THE GLASS TO CHECK IF THE VALVE WAS OPEN WAS DIRTY AND HE COULD NOT TELL IF THE VALVE WAS OPEN OR CLOSED. HE HAD THE GLASS REPLACED AND NOW CHECKS THE VALVE EACH TIME BEFORE EACH FLIGHT.
UPON REVIEW OF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SOLO ENDORSEMENTS, IT WAS FOUND THAT HE WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO FLY THE SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT ON 01/18/2020. INSPECTOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SPOKE WITH ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ INSTRUCTOR, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WHO SUBMITTED AN EMAIL EXCHANGE STATING HE NEEDED TO BE ENDORSED FOR THE FLIGHT BEFORE HE TOOK OFF. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DID NOT RESPOND TO HIS INSTRUCTOR'S EMAIL AND WENT ON THE FLIGHT.
Other reports on N922HT · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.