# NTSB CEN09LA551: Weber Pelican, N713DW, Searcy, AR, August 26, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 26, 2009, 12:25 local (17:25 UTC) - Place: Searcy, AR - Coordinates: 35.210556, -91.737503 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2106&lon=-91.7375&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 74632 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA551 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74632/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74632 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA551 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's incorrect positioning of the fuel selector valve. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Weber Don PELICAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=0560642), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Weber Don PELICAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=0560642), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Weber Don PELICAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=0560642), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Weber Don PELICAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0560642), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Weber Don PELICAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=0560642), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Weber Don PELICAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0560642), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Weber Don PELICAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0560642), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Weber Don PELICAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0560642), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot took off for a test flight and after climbing approximately 500 feet, and with about 1,000 to 1,500 feet of runway remaining, the engine lost power. The pilot lowered the nose to maintain airspeed and made a forced landing in a field at the end of the runway. Upon touchdown, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded a few feet before coming to a stop. Postaccident examination indicated that the fuel selector was in the "OFF" position; the pilot thought it was in the "ON" position. The design of the selector handle was such that the "tail" of the selector handle was in the "OFF" position. A 180-degree twist of the handle would have placed it in the "ON" position. ## Factual narrative On August 26, 2009, approximately 1225 central daylight time, a Weber Pelican PL, N713DW, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following a loss of engine power shortly after taking off from Searcy, Arkansas, Municipal Airport (SRC). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The local test flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot’s accident report, all preflight and pre-takeoff checks were accomplished and he took off on runway 19 for a local test flight. After climbing approximately 500 feet with about 1,000 to 1,500 feet of runway remaining, the engine “missed once” and lost power. He lowered the nose to maintain airspeed and made a forced landing in a field at the end of the runway. Upon touchdown, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded a few feet before coming to a stop. An FAA airworthiness inspector went to the scene and reported finding the fuel selector in the OFF position. He said the pilot thought it was in the ON position. The inspector said the design of the fuel selector handle was poor because the “tail” of the selector handle was in the OFF position. A 180-degree twist of the handle would have placed it in the ON position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N713DW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N713DW-2009-09-10), registration cancelled 2009-09-10, S/N 601 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Weber PELICAN (PL) - Registry model: [Weber Don PELICAN](https://openairdocs.org/model/weber-don-pelican) (registry code 0560642) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 601 - Airframe hours: 296 - Engines: Rotex 912 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Billy V. Sutterfield - Registered owner: Billy V. Sutterfield - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 10, 2009, 3 hours before - Departed: SRC, Searcy, AR - Destination: SRC, Searcy, AR - Airport: SRC, Searcy Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 11, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 5,100 total, 5 in this make and model, 4,900 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: SRC ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 22, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74632. 937 KB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 644 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318911&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318771&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Damage to N713DW. (item 3, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318772&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Damage%20to%20N713DW.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Fuel selector valve handle (left of arrow). (item 4, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318775&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Fuel%20selector%20valve%20handle%20(left%20of%20arrow).-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Instructions for Modification of Fuel Valve. (item 5, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318776&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Instructions%20for%20Modification%20of%20Fuel%20Valve.-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.