# NTSB investigations: Fuel indication system

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ERA24LA331](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA331.md): Aero Commander 200 · Valdosta, GA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 26, 2024 · N326WR · Substantial damage
  > An insect nest in the right main fuel tank’s vent line, which resulted in an inaccurate fuel level reading, fuel starvation, and a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB WPR24LA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA218.md): TL Ultralight Sting RG · Rio Linda, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 26, 2024 · N912RG · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was a fuel quantity indication that was inconsistent with the actual fuel state of the airplane, which likely led the pilot to overestimate the amount of fuel remaining onboard.
- [NTSB CEN24LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA033.md): Aero Commander 500-B · Jackson, MI · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 7, 2023 · N118PW · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power to both engines as a result of the pilot’s improper fuel management. Contributing was the inoperative fuel quantity sending unit.
- [NTSB CEN21LA419](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA419.md): Thatcher CX4 · Marshalltown, IA · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 9, 2021 · N306TA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to properly determine the correct fuel quantity during preflight inspection that resulted in a loss of engine power during approach due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB CEN20LA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA290.md): Piper PA22 · Loveland, OH · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 18, 2020 · N4816A · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation
- [NTSB ERA20LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA197.md): Schweizer 269C-1 · Ozark, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 30, 2020 · N9421P · Destroyed
  > A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the flight school’s inadequate maintenance of the helicopter’s fuel quantity and caution systems.
- [NTSB WPR20LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA038.md): Piper PA-34-200T · Phoenix, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 11, 2019 · N2822F · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s mismanagement of the fuel onboard, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the fuel starvation was the erroneous indications on the fuel gauges.
- [NTSB WPR19LA243](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA243.md): Mooney M20C · Reno, NV · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 26, 2019 · N78988 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper inflight fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB GAA19CA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA344.md): Bell UH 1H · Bethel, AK · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 6, 2019 · N4085L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power, and his improper landing flare during a forced autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident were the inoperative fuel…
- [NTSB GAA18CA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA184.md): Piper PA32 · Camas, WA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Mar 4, 2018 · N3756W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate inflight fuel management and his failure to switch to a fuel tank with adequate fuel, which resulted in fuel starvation.
- [NTSB ANC17LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA043.md): Cessna T207 · Juneau, AK · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Aug 14, 2017 · N745KP · Substantial damage
  > The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB GAA17CA305](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA305.md): Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164 · Maxwell, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 26, 2017 · N6674K · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to visually check the fuel quantity during the preflight inspection and ensure that sufficient fuel was onboard for the flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
- [NTSB WPR17LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA071.md): Bell 206B · Firebaugh, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 1, 2017 · N211CS · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the improper calibration of the fuel quantity gauge, which led the pilot to believe that there was adequate fuel onboard.
- [NTSB CEN17LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA038.md): Weatherly 620B · Coleman, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Nov 12, 2016 · N2035J · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
- [NTSB GAA17CA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA032.md): Smith AEROSTAR601 · Carrollton, GA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 20, 2016 · N601UK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to verify the usable fuel in the fuel tanks, which resulted in an inaccurate fuel totalizer setting during preflight, fuel exhaustion, and a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB ERA16LA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA291.md): Luscombe 8 · Marlboro, NJ · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 13, 2016 · N71497 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate in-flight fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN15LA296](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA296.md): Colonial C 1 · Chico, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 5, 2015 · N257B · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the unsnapped fuel bladder, which resulted in an inaccurate fuel quantity indication, and the pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning, during which he relied solely on the fuel…
- [NTSB WPR14CA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA334.md): Jabiru USA Sport J250 SP · Bakersfield, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 8, 2014 · N526FL · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate approach which resulted in a long landing and runway overrun.
- [NTSB CEN14CA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA275.md): Unknown Buccaneer SX · Wagoner, OK · Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 29, 2014 · UNREG · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control following a loss of engine power during takeoff. Contributing was the pilot's inadequate fuel management that led to fuel starvation/exhaustion and the loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN13FA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA075.md): Hughes 369 · Childress, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 27, 2012 · N28MP · Substantial damage
  > The improper maintenance of the helicopter fuel system that resulted in erroneous fuel gauge indications and the pilot’s inadequate fuel management, both of which resulted in fuel exhaustion during a long-line hover. Also causal was the lack of company…
- [NTSB ERA12FA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA074.md): Beech 95-C55 · Ulysses, PA · Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 17, 2011 · N54552 · Substantial damage
  > The total loss of left engine power due to fuel starvation, and the pilot’s improper configuration of the fuel system during remedial actions, which resulted in fuel starvation of the right engine. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s incomplete…
- [NTSB ERA12FA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA023.md): Socata TBM 700 · Hollywood, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 12, 2011 · N37SV · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to terminate the flight after observing multiple conflicting errors associated with the inaccurate right fuel quantity indication. Contributing to the accident were the total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation from the right tank,…
- [NTSB CEN12LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA007.md): Piper PA-38-112 · Centerburg, OH · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 5, 2011 · N6403A · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper pre-flight planning and failure to ensure that there was an adequate fuel supply on board to complete the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the malfunction of the fuel quantity indicator.
- [NTSB WPR11CA327](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA327.md): Cessna 150J · Wheatland, WY · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 13, 2011 · N60060 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate fuel consumption calculations, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to continue flight with known equipment deficiencies.
- [NTSB WPR10FA385](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA385.md): Piper PA-24-260C · Ridgecrest, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 5, 2010 · N9365P · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, as a result of the pilot's improper fuel management during cruise flight.
- [NTSB CEN09CA519](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA519.md): Cessna 182A · Watertown, SD · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 31, 2009 · N2131G · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of a fuel tank leak. Contributing to the accident was the reported malfunction of the fuel gauge.
- [NTSB CEN09CA407](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA407.md): Remos G-3/6000 · Oshkosh, WI · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 1, 2009 · N261RA · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of total engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the instructor pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. Contributing to the accident was the creased fuel quantity tube.
- [NTSB ERA09LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA266.md): Douglas DC3 · San Juan, PR · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 26, 2009 · N136FS · Substantial damage
  > Worn electrical wires and a fuel pressure indicating system hose, which resulted in a ground fire during taxi.
- [NTSB ERA09LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA004.md): Cessna T210M · Savannah, GA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 4, 2008 · N11PC · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power in flight due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's improper fuel management.
- [NTSB CHI08CA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA199.md): Eagle Eagle DW-1 · Bryan, OH · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 18, 2008 · N8814L · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's improper fuel calculations. A contributing factor was the inaccurate fuel gauge.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT f.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_findings.parquet' f WHERE starts_with(f."findingCode", '01022840'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840/cases

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