# Accident 20241106018009A: Dehavilland DHC-1, East Troy, WI, November 6, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 6, 2024, 15:45 local time
- Place: East Troy, WI
- Airport: East Troy Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.7972° N, 88.3726° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7972&lon=-88.3726&mi=10
- Aircraft: N420TD, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N420TD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Dehavilland DHC-1 (registry code 2801702, https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Dehav ENG GIPSY MAJOR (registry code 20004, https://openairdocs.org/engine/dehav-eng-gipsy-major) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-1
- Reported engine: DEHAV ENG GIPSY MAJOR
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,181 total, 25 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA035) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241106018009A

## Narrative

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

ON NOVEMBER 6, 2024, THE SUBJECT AIRCRAFT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH INVOLVED A FORCED LANDING APPROXIMATELY ¼ MILE SHORT OF THE TURF RUNWAY AT EAST TROY, WISCONSIN (57C). THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS, FUSELAGE, PROPELLER, LEFT AND RIGHT LANDING GEAR. THE PILOT WAS THE LONE OCCUPANT AND SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY.

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE EXPERIENCED ENGINE PROBLEMS ABOUT 40 MINUTES INTO FLIGHT IN VMC CONDITIONS. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, APPROXIMATELY ½ MILE OUT FROM THE RUNWAY, THE ENGINE THROTTLE CONTROL AUTHORITY WAS LIMITED AT LOW POWER SETTINGS. HE OBSERVED THE LEFT FUEL QUANTITY TO BE 3 GALLONS LEFT AND 2 GALLONS RIGHT, THEN SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK TO RIGHT WITH NO CHANGE IN THROTTLE RESPONSE. APPROXIMATELY ¼ MILE OUT FROM THE RUNWAY AND 300 FEET ABOVE GROUND, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED TO ZERO. THE PILOT LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD ABOUT 400 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.

ANALYSIS OF THE PILOT STATEMENTS AND POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION FINDINGS INDICATED THAT THE PILOT’S FUEL PLANNING DUE TO AN INACCURATE LEFT FUEL QUANTITY INDICATOR, INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION DATA, AND ADVANCED ENGINE WEAR RESULTED IN FUEL SUPPLY EXHAUSTION OR INTERRUPTION AND RESULTANT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

THE PILOT EXPRESSED HIS OPINION THAT THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SELECTOR VALVE LOCATION DELAYED HIS REACTION TIME TO THIS INFLIGHT INCIDENT, EXPLAINING THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE VALVE WITHOUT SLACKENING HIS SHOULDER HARNESS RESTRAINTS. HE RECOMMENDED THAT THE LOCATION AND PROXIMITY OF THIS COMPONENT BE EVALUATED FOR SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS.

THIS REPORT MAY BE AMENDED AS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.

## 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 CEN25LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA035), Nov 6, 2024: De Havilland DHC-1 (N420TD), East Troy, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the inaccurate fuel gauge.

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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