ATL05CA158

NTSB accident investigation · Christen Industries S-2B · Deeherd, TN · September 6, 2005

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
September 5, 2005, 19:04 local (Sep 6, 2005, 00:04 UTC)
Place
Deeherd, TN
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N60770Christen Industries S-2B
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 20, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Nashville FSDO-03
FAA report
20050905022619A
Case key
62387

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 pilots inadequate preflight of the fuel tank resulting in a total loss of engine power in cruise flight, forced landing, and nose over on landing roll out.

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 powerCruise
Aircraft preflight - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Fluid,fuel - exhaustion
Preflight planning/preparation - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Forced landingDescent - emergency
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterEmergency landing
Terrain condition - rough/unevenFactor
Terrain condition - ground
Nose overLanding - roll

Analysis

The pilot stated he flew the airplane for three flights on September 4, 2005, and refueled the airplane before and after the first flight. He did not refuel the airplane after the third flight. On the day of the accident he completed a preflight inspection of the airplane and no anomalies were noted. He did not check or stick the fuel tank to measure the fuel quantity. He departed on a local flight, picked up a friend, and flew around the local area before landing back at Tullahoma. He did not add any fuel before departing Tullahoma back to Sewanee. The pilot stated,"I then departed Tullahoma for Sewanee and ran out of fuel in flight over Woods Reservoir at an altitude of 3000 feet AGL." He made a forced landing to an open field, and the airplane nosed over on touchdown.

Factual narrative

On September 5, 2005 at 1904 central daylight time, an experimental Christen Industries S-2B, N60770, registered to and operated by a private owner, lost engine power and nosed over during a forced landing at an open field in Deeherd, Tennessee. The flight operated under provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated from Tullahoma Regional Airport, Tullahoma, Tennessee on September 5, 2005 at 1850.

The pilot stated he flew the airplane for three flights on September 4, 2005, and refueled the airplane before and after the first flight. He did not refuel the airplane after the third flight with his wife. On the day of the accident he completed a preflight inspection of the airplane and no anomalies were noted. He did not check or stick the fuel tank to measure the fuel quantity. He departed on a local flight from Sewanee, Tennessee, to Tullahoma, Tennessee. He landed at Tullahoma, Tennessee, picked up a friend, and flew around the local area before landing back at Tullahoma. He did not add any fuel before departing Tullahoma back to Sewanee. The pilot stated, "I then departed Tullahoma for Sewanee and ran out of fuel in flight over Woods Reservoir at an altitude of 3000 feet AGL." The pilot made a forced landing to an open field, and the airplane nosed over on touch down.

Aircraft

Registration
N60770
Reported as
Christen Industries S-2B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
5115
Airframe hours
1,349
Engine
Lycoming AEIO-540, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Thomas E. Hartigvsen, doing business as 220 Choctaw Road
Registered owner
Thomas E. Hartvigsen
Last inspection
Annual · December 1, 2004 · 57 hours before
Departed
THA · Tullahoma, TN
Destination
UOS · Sewanee, TN

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
52
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
October 1, 2003
Seat
Rear
Flight hours
347 total · 183 in this make and model · 81 as pilot in command · 24 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
40° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 57 °F
Altimeter
30.20 inHg
Observed at
BNA, 49 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

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