# NTSB BFO93LA133: Beatty Glasair SH-2, N522EB, Cape May, NJ, July 21, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 21, 1993, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Cape May, NJ
- Location: 39.0084° N, 74.9085° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CAPE MAY COUNTY (WWD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0084&lon=-74.9085&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11956
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO93LA133
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11956/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93LA133

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT BY NOT ASSURING THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE PROPER POSITION FOR TAKEOFF, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER; AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL.  THE PILOT'S DISTRACTION (DIVERTED ATTENTION) WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## 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
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)

## Analysis

BEFORE FLIGHT, THE PILOT STARTED THE ENGINE BY USING THE AUXILIARY (AUX) FUEL TANK.  HE ESTIMATED THERE WAS ABOUT 2 GAL OF FUEL IN THE AUX TANK AND 20 TO 22 GAL IN THE MAIN TANK.  HE INTENDED TO MOVE THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE MAIN TANK FOR TAKEOFF, BUT SAID HE WAS DISTRACTED WHEN ANOTHER AIRCRAFT TAXIED IN FRONT OF HIM, THOUGH HE WAS USING A CHECKLIST. SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, AT ABOUT 75 TO 100 FT AGL, THE ENGINE LOST POWER.  THE PILOT SAID HE MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE MAIN TANK POSITION, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART.  THE PILOT STARTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING, BUT THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N522EB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N522EB-1994-01-18), registration cancelled 1994-01-18, S/N SN522 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEATTY GLASAIR SH-2 (GLASAIR SH)
- Registry model: [Beatty Eugene J GLASAIR SH-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/beatty-eugene-j-glasair-sh-2) (registry code 05655VC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 522
- Airframe hours: 217
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-C1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Eugene J. Beatty
- Registered owner: Eugene J. Beatty
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1992, 12 hours before
- Departed: WWD
- Destination: WWD
- Airport: WWD, Cape May County, runway 32, 4,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,700 total, 217 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19930721052689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930721052689A), Jul 21, 1993: Amtr GLASAIRIIRG, Wildwood, NJ, Destroyed. Started engine on aux tank with two gallons fuel in main engine quit on initial climb. On aux. No restart. Stalled.

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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