# NTSB BFO93LA117: Holmes Special, N485MH, Chavies, KY, July 11, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 11, 1993, 17:42 local (21:42 UTC)
- Place: Chavies, KY
- Coordinates: 37.38031, -83.280265 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3803&lon=-83.2803&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11953
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO93LA117
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11953/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93LA117

## Probable cause

FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO TAKE OFF WITH A LOW FUEL LEVEL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LOW FUEL LEVEL, THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FUEL SYSTEM, AND THE UNEVEN TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - fluid,fuel - low level (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - performed, pilot in command
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT MADE A RIGHT TURN INTO A HOLLOW BETWEEN RISING TERRAIN.  HE REALIZED THAT THE AIRPLANE COULD NOT ATTAIN A CLIMB RATE NEEDED TO CLEAR THE TERRAIN, SO HE MADE A STEEP TURN.  DURING THE TURN, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER.  DURING A FORCED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A CREEK BANK AND WAS DAMAGED.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS ABOUT 6 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD FOR THE FIVE MILE FLIGHT.  THE FUEL CAPACITY OF THE AIRPLANE WAS 23 GALLONS.  POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES.  THE FUEL TANK WAS RUPTURED AND EMPTY.  THE FUEL LINE FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE INJECTION SERVO CONTAINED THREE TO FOUR DROPS OF FUEL. THE FUEL LINE FROM THE SERVO TO THE FLOW DIVIDER CONTAINED ENOUGH FUEL TO FILL HALF OF THE LINE.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS MODELED VERY CLOSELY AFTER A 2 SEAT PITTS SPECIAL, WHICH WAS PLACARDED TO RESTRICT TAKEOFFS WITH LESS THAN 1/4 TANK OF FUEL DUE TO POSSIBLE FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N485MH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N485MH-2013-09-13), registration cancelled 2013-09-13, S/N 002, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HOLMES SPECIAL
- Registry model: [Holmes Milton N HOLMES SPECIAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/holmes-milton-n-holmes-special) (registry code 05616E3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 3
- Airframe hours: 150
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Stephen L. Smith
- Registered owner: Stephen L. Smith
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 20, 1992, 60 hours before
- Departed: DUFF FIELD, KY
- Destination: K20, HAZARD, KY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial, airline transport, flight engineer, military; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 9,300 total, 60 in this make and model, 5,100 as pilot in command, 195 in the last 90 days, 73 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: JKL, 20 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 19930711022989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930711022989A), Jul 11, 1993: Amtrhm SPECIALS2C, Chavies, KY, Destroyed. Lost power on climbout. Stalled trying to clear rising terrain. Pilot believes low fuel unported on climb angle.

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.

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