ANC96LA145

NTSB accident investigation · Taylorcraft F21B · Kenai, AK · September 4, 1996

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 3, 1996, 17:00 local (Sep 4, 1996, 01:00 UTC)
Place
Kenai, AK
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N4417PTaylorcraft F21B
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 15, 1997
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Alaska Regional Office
FAA report
19960903029899A
Case key
2897

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's improper fuel managment, which resulted in loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanicalManeuvering
Fuel management - improperPilot in commandCause
Fluid,fuel - exhaustionCause
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing
In flight collision with objectEmergency landing
Object - wire,transmission
Nose overEmergency landing

Analysis

According to the pilot, he flew the airplane in a long, slow, turn around his cabin. When he rolled the wings level, the engine stopped producing power. While descending for a forced landing on a road, the airplane's main landing gear struck a power line. The power line broke, but remained attached to the landing gear. During touchdown on the road, the airplane veered off the road and nosed over. The pilot said that during the landing, the power line was dragging behind the airplane. Also, he stated that after the accident, he drained the fuel tanks and found only 2 to 3 gallons of fuel on board.

Factual narrative

On September 3, 1996, at 1700 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Taylorcraft F21B airplane, N4417P, registered to and operated by the pilot, lost engine power during maneuvering flight. The pilot had to execute a forced landing to a road. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Anchorage, Alaska, and the destination was Carty's Airstrip located in Nikiski, Alaska. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged.

During a telephone conversation with the pilot on September 11, 1996, he stated that he was low on fuel upon arriving in the Nikiski area. He made a long slow circle around his cabin and when he rolled wings level the engine stopped producing power. He selected a road on which to land and during the descent the airplane's landing gear struck some power lines. The power lines broke and the airplane landed on the road. During the landing roll, the airplane veered off the road and nosed over. The pilot stated the power line was wrapped around the landing gear and was dragging along the ground. The pilot said he drained the fuel tanks after landing and found only 2 to 3 gallons of fuel on board.

Aircraft

Registration
N4417P
Reported as
Taylorcraft F21B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
F1510
Airframe hours
706
Engine
Lycoming O-235-L2C, 118 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Johnnie R. Harris
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 3, 1996 · 706 hours before
Departed
LHD · Anchorage, AK
Destination
2R3 · Nikiski, AK

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
46
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
350 total · 275 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
99 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
63 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.