# Accident 20220913020559A: William L Bell VANS RV-7A, Warrenton, VA, September 13, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 13, 2022, 17:00 local time
- Place: Warrenton, VA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.7400° N, 77.6900° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7400&lon=-77.6900&mi=10
- Aircraft: N40WB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N40WB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: William L Bell VANS RV-7A (registry code 05637S1, https://openairdocs.org/model/william-l-bell-vans-rv-7a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming YIO-360-M1B (registry code 42414, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-yio-360-m1b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WILLIAM L BELL VANS RV-7A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING YIO-360-M1B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,449 total, 63 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA22LA416](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA416) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220913020559A

## Narrative

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

9-13-2022 - 2101 - ACCIDENT PILOT REPORTED TO ATC HE HAD LOST THRUST. THE ENGINE BEGAN SPUTTERING AND THE ACCIDENT PILOT EXECUTED THE ENGINE FAILURE CHECKLIST. THE ACCIDENT PILOT REPORTED SWAPPING BETWEEN LEFT WING AND RIGHT WING FUEL TANK MULTIPLE TIMES AS PART OF THE ENGINE FAILURE CHECKLIST. A WITNESS ON THE GROUND REPORTED HEARING THE AIRCRAFT AND THEY DESCRIBED WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE EXPERIENCING FUEL STARVATION.

THE ENGINE HAD QUIT RUNNING AND THE ACCIDENT PILOT BEGAN SEARCHING FOR AN AREA TO LAND. THE MOST SUITABLE LOCATION WAS LAKE ASHBY. UPON TOUCHDOWN IN THE WATER THE AIRCRAFT CARTWHEELED AND CAME TO A REST IN THE LAKE UPSIDE DOWN. THE PILOT MANAGED TO ESCAPE THROUGH THE BROKEN CANOPY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED BY A WRECKING SERVICE WHO HAD CUT OFF THE WINGS OF THE AIRCRAFT OUTBOARD OF THE FUEL TANKS FOR GROUND TRANSPORT.

UPON EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE INSPECTOR WATSON FOUND THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE COULD NOT BE UNCOVERED UPON INITIAL EXAMINATION DUE TO DEBRIS FROM LAKE ASHBY. THE ACCIDENT PILOT REPORTED THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK WAS FULL AT 20 GALLONS AND THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK WAS AT APPROXIMATELY HALF CAPACITY AT 10 GALLONS AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF FROM THV. THE ACCIDENT PILOT STATED HE SELECTED THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK PRIOR TO ENGINE START BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. HE BELIEVED THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONSUMING FUEL FROM THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK DURING THE DURATION OF THE FLIGHT UNTIL HE SELECTED THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK DURING THE ENGINE FAILURE CHECKLIST. UPON EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL TANKS INSPECTOR WATSON FOUND THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK WAS FULL OF FUEL. NO EVIDENCE OF RUPTURE WAS FOUND ON THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK AND IT APPEARED TO BE INTACT.

IT IS BELIEVED THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONSUMING FUEL FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK DURING THE ENTIRE DURATION OF THE FLIGHT. IT IS BELIEVED THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS NOT CAPABLE OF SUPPLYING FUEL FROM THE LEFT WING TANK DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION. IT APPEARS THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE HAD CONSUMED THE RIGHT FUEL TANK ENTIRELY WHICH LED TO THE ENGINE FAILING DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. INVESTIGATION INTO THE ROOT CAUSE IS STILL ONGOING.

## 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 ERA22LA416](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA416), Sep 13, 2022: William L Bell Vans RV-7A (N40WB), Warrenton, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane could not be examined.

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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