# NTSB ATL93LA128: Brown Glassair SH-2, N412NV, Timmonsville, SC, July 14, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 14, 1993, 15:35 local (19:35 UTC) - Place: Timmonsville, SC - Coordinates: 34.129032, -79.94001 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1290&lon=-79.9400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3239 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3239/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA128 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE FUEL PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN THE EXHAUSTION OF THE FUEL SUPPLY AND THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH A MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE BULLETIN. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - maintenance,service bulletin/letter - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGHLY WHILE ON APPROACH TO RUNWAY 32. BECAUSE HE WAS TOO HIGH FOR A SAFE TOUCHDOWN AND ROLLOUT, THE PILOT ATTEMPTIED A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT. DURING THE FORCED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED. THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND ACCIDENT SITE DISCLOSED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS NOR WAS THERE FUEL SPILLED IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE AIRPLANE WAS LAST REFUELED THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT, AND HAD FLOWN ABOUT TWO HOURS PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT. THE PILOT ESTIMATED A TOTAL FUEL ENDURANCE OF FOUR AND ONE HALF HOURS; THE FUEL GUAGE INDICATED ABOUT 22 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD AT HIS LAST DEPARTURE. THE PILOT ALSO REPORTED THAT, N412NV HAD A HISTORY OF VENTING LARGE QUANTITIES OF FUEL WHILE PARKED ON THE RAMP. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, STODDARD-HAMILTON (GLASSAIRE), ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO CORRECT THE FUEL VENTING PROBLEM; THE SERVICE BULLETIN HAD NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED ON N421NV. ## Factual narrative On July 14, 1993, at 1535 eastern daylight time, a Brown Glassair SH-2, N412NV, collided with the ground while attempting a forced landing short of the Huggins Memorial Airport, Timmonsville, South Carolina. The personal flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was destroyed, and the pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The flight departed Monroe, North Carolina, at 1435 hours. The pilot reported that the engine started running roughly, and subsequently quit while on final approach to runway 32. Since the airplane was too high above the runway for a safe touchdown and roll out, the pilot elected to attempt a forced landing to a planted field adjacent to the runway; the airplane sustained substantial structural damage during the emergency landing. The subsequent wreckage and accident site examinations failed to disclose the presence of fuel in the tanks; no fuel spillage was noted on the ground at the accident site. During a telephone conversation with the pilot, he stated that N412NV had a history of venting fuel while parked. The pilot also stated that Stoddard-Hamilton (Glassaire) issued a servuce bulletin to correct the fuel venting problem; the service bulletin had not been applied to N412NV. According to the pilot, the airplane was topped with fuel about three weeks before the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N412NV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N412NV-1997-03-05), registration cancelled 1997-03-05, S/N 332 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BROWN GLASSAIR SH-2 (GLASSAIR) - Registry model: [Brown Earl E GLASAIR T D](https://openairdocs.org/model/brown-earl-e-glasair-t-d) (registry code 05655PU) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 332 - Airframe hours: 272 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dew, Duncan - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 27, 1993, 16 hours before - Departed: EQY, MONROE, NC - Destination: 58J - Airport: 58J, Huggins Memorial Airport, runway 32, 3,090 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 497 total, 71 in this make and model, 315 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 11 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FLO, 10 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 19930714023489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930714023489A), Jul 14, 1993: Amtr GLASAIR, Timmonsville, SC, Substantial damage. Engine quit on downwind approach. Overshot runway. Landed off airport. Fuel empty. Blamed fuel caps venting parked. 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.