# Accident 20210814013769A: Haley M Gary HIGHLANDER, Waller, TX, August 14, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 14, 2021, 14:50 local time
- Place: Waller, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.0485° N, 95.8808° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0485&lon=-95.8808&mi=10
- Aircraft: N100GH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N100GH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Haley M Gary HIGHLANDER (registry code 05629V3, https://openairdocs.org/model/haley-m-gary-highlander) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 914UL (registry code 55553, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914ul) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HALEY M GARY HIGHLANDER
- Reported engine: ROTAX 914UL
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 8,000 total, 1,700 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA375](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA375) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210814013769A

## Narrative

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

WHEN CONTACTED THE PILOT BY PHONE ON AUGUST 17, 2021, HE INDICATED THAT ON SATURDAY AUGUST 14, 2021, ABOUT 10 MILES WEST OF DRY CREEK AIRPORT HIS AIRCRAFT ENGINE STARTED SURGING AND QUIT. HE SAID THAT TRYING TO MAKE IT TO A DIRT ROAD HE WENT DOWN ABOUT 10 YARDS SHORT OF THE ROAD. HE REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT AS A TOTAL, BUT NO INJURIES TO HIM AND THE PASSENGER.

ON AUGUST 19, 2021, THE REPORTING INSPECTOR VISITED THE AIRCRAFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^HANGAR WHERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS RELOCATED. WHEN ASKED WHO AUTHORIZED THE RELOCATION OF THE AIRCRAFT, THE PILOT INDICATED THAT THE DAY THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED HE TALK WITH THE FAA IN FORT WORTH, WHO AUTHORIZED HIM TO RECOVER AND RELOCATE THE AIRCRAFT.

TO FOLLOW UP ON THE PHONE CONVERSATION WITH ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ON AUGUST 17, 2021, THE REPORTING INSPECTOR ASKED HIM AT WHAT MOMENT THE ENGINE QUIT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT QUIT, BUT WAS SURGING AND NOT PRODUCING ENOUGH POWER TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. WHEN ASKED WHEN HE FIRST DETECTED THE ENGINE SURGE, HE SAID ABOUT 40 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FEET. HE SAID THAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED HE SPOTTED A DIRT ROAD AND TRIED TO MAKE IT, BUT IT GET DISTRACTED ON THE RADIO TAKING TO ANOTHER AIRCRAFT PILOT IN THE AREA AND WENT DOWN ABOUT 100 YARDS SHORT OF THE DIRT ROAD. WHEN ASKED HOW MUCH FUEL THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEFORE DEPARTURE HE SAID HE DIDN'T CHECK IT, BUT THINKS IT WAS AT LEAST 15 GALLONS.

AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED A SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING, THE FUSELAGE TUBING FRAME SECTION BETWEEN THE CABIN ENTRANCE RIGHT DOOR FRAME AND THE ENGINE FIREWALL. BOTH LANDING GEAR STRUTS WERE PARTIALLY TORN.

BOTH WINGS WERE CUT AT THE ROOT TO FACILITATE TRANSPORT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IN CONSEQUENCE THE FUEL TANKS HOSES DISCONNECTED. A PLASTIC BUCKET WAS PLACE ON THE FLOOR BELOW THE RIGHT FUEL TANK OPEN FITTING IN AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT ANY SPILLED FUEL. THERE WERE NOT FUEL IN THE BUCKET, BUT IT WAS A LARGE FUEL STAIN ON THE FLOOR.

BOTH CARBURETORS FLOAT BOWLS WERE REMOVED AND FOUND THEY HAD FUEL WITH NO VISIBLE CONTAMINATION.

ENGINE THROTTLE WAS CHECKED AND FOUND NO IRREGULARITIES.

## 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 CEN21LA375](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA375), Aug 14, 2021: Haley Highlander (N100GH), Waller, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

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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