# NTSB CEN09CA407: Remos G-3/6000, N261RA, Oshkosh, WI, July 1, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 1, 2009, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Oshkosh, WI - Coordinates: 43.984165, -88.556945 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9842&lon=-88.5569&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74194 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA407 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74194/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74194 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA407 ## Probable cause A total loss of total engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the instructor pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. Contributing to the accident was the creased fuel quantity tube. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Remos G-3/600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=060004I), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Remos G-3/600, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=060004I), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel indication system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Remos G-3/600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840/cases.md?model=060004I), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Remos G-3/600, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=060004I), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Remos G-3/600, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=060004I), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Remos G-3/600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=060004I), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The instructor pilot reported that she preflighted the fuel quantity of the high-wing Special Light Sport Aircraft (S-LSA) by looking at the fuel quantity tube that was located between the pilots’ seats. She reported that it indicated 1/2 tank, or about 11 gallons of fuel. The pilot departed on a demonstration flight. After approximately 30 minutes of flight, the pilot was returning to the airport when the engine stopped. The engine was restarted, but stopped again about one minute later. The engine stopped and was restarted about five times. The pilot executed a forced landing to a field, and the airplane nosed over during the landing roll. Inspection of the fuel system revealed that it was empty; the engine ran when fuel was provided. The inspection of the fuel quantity tube revealed that it was “discolored,” and that there was a crease in the tube at the half-way point. The pilot reported that the crease in the tube made it appear that there was 1/2 tank of fuel. The airplane was also equipped with a fuel quantity gauge on the instrument panel which operated normally. ## Factual narrative The instructor pilot reported that she preflighted the fuel quantity of the high wing Special Light Sport Aircraft (S-LSA) by looking at the fuel quantity tube that was located between the pilots’ seats. She reported that it indicated 1/2 tank of fuel, or about 11 gallons of fuel. The pilot departed on a demonstration flight. After approximately 30 minutes of flight, the pilot was returning to the airport when the engine stopped. The engine was restarted, but stopped again about one minute later. The engine stopped and was restarted about five times. The pilot executed a forced landing to a field, and the airplane nosed over during the landing roll. The inspection of the fuel system revealed that it was empty. The engine ran when fuel was provided. The inspection of the fuel quantity tube revealed that it was “discolored,” and that there was a crease in the tube at the half-way point. The pilot reported that the crease in the tube made it appear that there was 1/2 tank of fuel. The airplane was also equipped with a fuel quantity gauge on the instrument panel which operated. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) operated the airplane and used it at the EAA Air Academy. The EAA Director of Aircraft Operations reported that new procedures were instituted for EAA Air Academy Remos flight operations. The new procedures were: 1) Minimum fuel for dispatch of an Air Academy flight is 1/2 tank. If below 1/2 tank, it must be refueled to full prior to departure, 2) If an instructor change occurs, the aircraft must be refueled to full by the instructor taking over prior to flight, 3) Each aircraft must begin each day of operations with full fuel. Additionally, an “aircraft tach time” column was added to the airplane’s refueling log. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N261RA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N261RA), registered now, S/N 219, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Remos G-3/6000 - Registry model: [Remos G-3/600](https://openairdocs.org/model/remos-g-3-600) (registry code 060004I) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 219 - Engines: Rotax 912-UL-S 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Experimental Aircraft Association - Registered owner: William J Gottshalk - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: OSH, Oshkosh, WI - Destination: OSH, Oshkosh, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 28; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 425 total, 28 in this make and model, 270 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20090701017369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090701017369A), Jul 1, 2009: Remos REMOSG3600, Oshkosh, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed osh for a 1/2 hour eaa-sponsered air academy introductory flight. After approximately 30 minutes of flight, engine stopped. Determined… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74194. 678 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 641 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316121&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - EAA Minimum Fuel Limitations/Procedures (item 2, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316122&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=EAA%20Minimum%20Fuel%20Limitations%2FProcedures-Master.PDF 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.