# NTSB ATL93LA104: Hatz CB-1, N4426V, Stedman, NC, June 5, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 1993, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Stedman, NC - Coordinates: 35.009319, -78.689392 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0093&lon=-78.6894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3222 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3222/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA104 ## Probable cause THE IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE MAIN FUEL TANK DRAIN, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND ENGINE STOPPAGE. A FACTOR WERE TREES IN THE FORCED LANDING AREA. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel system,drain - improper (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT LANDED THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE IN A FARM FIELD DUE TO LOW FUEL STATUS. HE PURCHASED 5 GALLONS OF AUTO GAS, AND SERVICED THE MAIN TANK. HE THEN LIFTED THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT TO A LEVEL FLIGHT ATTITUDE SO THAT FUEL WOULD DRAIN TO THE HEADER TANK. ON THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE QUIT, THE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A TREE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED AN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED MAIN TANK DRAIN, WHICH RESULTED IN TRAPPED FUEL IN THE MAIN TANK. ## Factual narrative On June 5, 1993, at about 1600 eastern daylight time, a Hatz CB1, N4426V, collided with a tree following a reported engine power loss during takeoff from a farm field in Stedman, North Carolina. The private pilot had minor injuries in the accident, and a passenger was not injured. The experimental, home built aircraft was substantially damaged. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight to Fayetteville, North Carolina. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported the following: He was conducting the return leg of a cross country flight. At his last departure point, which was Clinton, North Carolina, he did not service the aircraft with fuel. As he overflew the Stedman area, he became concerned about the remaining fuel in the aircraft. He observed a grass strip below, and performed a landing. The strip turned out to be a farm field. He purchased five gallons of gasoline from a farmer, and serviced the wing tank. He then manually raised the tail of the airplane in an attempt to drain fuel into the header tank. He then ran the engine for a few minutes, and elected to continue the flight. During the initial climb after takeoff, the engine lost power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude, and the aircraft settled into a tall tree, where it came to rest. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration visited the accident site and reported the following: The normal procedure after adding fuel to the aircraft is to manually raise the aircraft tail to a level flight attitude, which will allow main tank fuel to drain into the header tank, then to the engine. The main fuel tank drain was positioned improperly, so that when the tail of the aircraft was lifted, the fuel did not sufficiently drain, resulting in trapped fuel. The pilot reported that the total amount of fuel on board the aircraft at the last takeoff was approximately 10 gallons (automotive gasoline). The total time on the airframe at the time of the accident was about 149 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4426V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4426V-2005-12-14), registration cancelled 2005-12-14, S/N 395, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HATZ CB-1 - Registry model: [Hatz CB-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/hatz-cb-1) (registry code 05601M1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 395 - Airframe hours: 149 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Koehne, Patrick J. - Registered owner: Koehne, Patrick J. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 5, 1992, 63 hours before - Departed: NONE - Destination: NONE, FAYETTEVILLE, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,070 total, 75 in this make and model, 1,070 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 12 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FAY, 8 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19930605016869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930605016869A), Jun 5, 1993: Amtr HATZVAN, Stedman, NC, Substantial damage. Low on fuel. Landed on farm strip. Put in auto fuel. Had header tank valve incorrect position. Blocked fuel. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.