# NTSB ATL94LA054: Helio HE391B, N9050R, Saluda, SC, February 26, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 26, 1994, 14:35 local (19:35 UTC) - Place: Saluda, SC - Coordinates: 33.99924, -81.769958 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9992&lon=-81.7700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3351 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3351/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA054 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S AND MECHANIC'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY INSPECT THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - fuel system,cap - leak - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis BEFORE THE DEPARTURE, THE OWNER COMPLETED EXTENSIVE MAINTENANCE ON THE AIRPLANE WHICH INCLUDED THE INSTALLATION OF REMANUFACTURED FUEL TANKS. SINCE THE AIRPLANE HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THE PILOT REQUESTED AND WAS ISSUED A SPECIAL FLIGHT PERMIT FOR THIS FLIGHT. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS FEEDING FASTER FROM ONE TANK. APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS INTO THE VISUAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER, FOLLOWED BY A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE DISCLOSED THAT FUEL LEAKED FROM AROUND THE LEFT FUEL CAP; THE EXAMINATION ALSO REVEALED A WORN FUEL CAP LOCKING LUG, AND TWO DETERIORATED FUEL CAP SEALS. ACCORDING TO TWO OPERATORS OF THE HELIO AIRCRAFT, WHEN THE FUEL CAPS LEAK IN-FLIGHT, FUEL WILL NOT GRAVITY FEED TO THE HOPPER TANK AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE ENGINE WILL BE STARVED OF FUEL. ## Factual narrative On February 26, 1994, at 1435 eastern standard time, a Helio HE391B, N9050R, nosed over during an emergency landing to a private airstrip near Saluda, South Carolina. The ferry flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan activated. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the pilot was not injured. The flight departed North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at 1245 hours. According to the pilot, he worked several weeks on N9040R, and completed extensive maintenance on the airplane. The repairs included the installation of a rebuilt engine and the installation of two remanufactured fuel tanks. During the installation of the fuel tanks, serviceable fuel caps were not replaced by the pilot and mechanic as part of the fuel tank installation. Since the aircraft maintenance logs were lost, and the airplane had not flown for several years, the pilot requested and was granted a Special Flight Permit from the Federal Aviation Administration. Under this provision, no annual aircraft maintenance inspection was required to conduct this flight. While enroute to Abbeville, South Carolina, at 4000 feet mean sea level, N9050R lost engine power, and the pilot's efforts to restart the engine failed. The pilot located an airstrip, and executed an emergency landing; the airplane touched down on the south runway at a 45 degree angle and flipped inverted. During the on site examination of the airplane, fuel was observed leaking from the left fuel cap. The pilot stated that the normal fuel endurance for the airplane is four hours; the airplane was full of fuel at the last departure (see attached pilot/owner accident report). The subsequent examination of the airplane revealed that the left fuel cap leaked fuel, and there was extensive wear on the fuel cap locking lugs. According to two operators of the Helio 391B type aircraft, they have experienced the same type of engine malfunction resulting from worn fuel caps. Both operators believed that a loose fuel cap in-flight prevents the gravity flow of fuel to the hopper tank, which results in the loss of engine power (see attached FAA personnel statements). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9050R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9050R-2017-02-04), registration cancelled 2017-02-04, S/N 055, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HELIO HE391B - Registry model: [Helio H-391B](https://openairdocs.org/model/helio-h-391b) (registry code 4300106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming GO-435C&D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-go-435c-d-series) (registry code 41521, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 055 - Airframe hours: 1700 - Engines: LYCOMING GO-435-C2B2-6 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Registered owner: Banning, David B. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 25, 1994, 5 hours before - Departed: CRE, N.MYRTLE BEACH, SC - Destination: NONE, ABBEVILE, SC - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: NONE, Berry, runway 17, 1,700 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 415 total, 3 in this make and model, 328 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CAE, 40 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 19940226003029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940226003029A), Feb 26, 1994: Saluda, SC, Substantial damage. Lost power en route. Landed on Private strip. Nosed over. Left fuel cap leaked. Prevented gravity fuel flow. 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.