# NTSB CEN10CA441: Wolseley Motors SE5-A, N93725, Seymour, IN, July 27, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 27, 2010, 08:50 local (12:50 UTC) - Place: Seymour, IN - Coordinates: 38.92472, -85.908332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9247&lon=-85.9083&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Indianapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76776 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA441 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76776/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76776 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA441 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power during initial climb due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention while attempting to restart the engine. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Wolseley Motors SE5-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056233W), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Wolseley Motors SE5-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=056233W), [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: [Wolseley Motors SE5-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=056233W), [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. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Wolseley Motors SE5-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=056233W), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Wolseley Motors SE5-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=056233W), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Wolseley Motors SE5-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056233W), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Wolseley Motors SE5-A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056233W), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Wolseley Motors SE5-A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056233W), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The accident occurred during a test flight after the airplane had been repaired from a previous accident. The experimental amateur-built airplane was a reproduction of a WWI British bi-wing fighter that was in production from 1916-1918. The pilot noted that the purpose of the flight was to obtain airborne fuel burn data and to further calibrate the airplane's electric fuel quantity gauge. The airplane's fuel tanks had been filled and drained several times during the pilot's previous attempts to calibrate the fuel quantity gauge. The pilot noted that the last time the airplane had been serviced with fuel was 5 days before the accident. He stated that while on initial climb from runway 14, a 5,502-foot-long by 100-foot-wide, about 60 feet above the ground, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot reported that the airplane stalled as he attempted to restart the engine. The airplane impacted terrain about 60 feet west of the runway, approximately 2/3 down the length of the runway. The right upper and lower wings, the left lower wing, and the forward fuselage primary structure were substantially damaged. A postaccident inspection found no evidence of any usable fuel in the airplane's four fuel tanks. Additionally, there was no evidence of a fuel spill at the accident site. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane or its engine. He also stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had focused on landing the airplane on the remaining runway, instead of attempting to restart the engine. ## Factual narrative The accident occurred during a test flight after the airplane had been repaired from a previous accident. The experimental amateur-built airplane was a reproduction of a WWI British bi-wing fighter that was in production from 1916-1918. The pilot noted that the purpose of the flight was to obtain airborne fuel burn data and to further calibrate the airplane's electric fuel quantity gauge. The airplane's fuel tanks had been filled and drained several times during his previous attempts to calibrate the fuel quantity gauge. The piloted noted that the last time the airplane had been serviced with fuel was 5 days before the accident. He stated that while on initial climb from runway 14 (5,502 by 100 feet, asphalt), about 60 feet above the ground, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot reported that the airplane stalled as he attempted to restart the engine. The airplane impacted terrain about 60 feet west of the runway, approximately 2/3 down the length of the runway. The right upper and lower wings, the left lower wing, and the forward fuselage primary structure were substantially damaged. A postaccident inspection found no evidence of any useable fuel in the airplane's four fuel tanks. Additionally, there was no evidence of a fuel spill at the accident site. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane or its engine. He also stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had focused on landing the airplane on the remaining runway, instead of attempting to restart the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93725](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93725-2012-02-13), registration cancelled 2012-02-13, S/N 0852 T, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Wolseley Motors, Inc. SE5-A - Registry model: [Wolseley Motors SE5-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/wolseley-motors-se5-a) (registry code 056233W) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0852 T - Airframe hours: 5 - Engines: General Motors LS-1 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Phillip E. Krueger - Registered owner: Phillip E. Krueger - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 27, 2010 - Departed: KSER, Seymour, IN - Destination: KSER, Seymour, IN - Airport: KSER, Freeman Municipal Airport, runway 14, 5,502 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 29, 2008; seat: rear; flight hours: 920 total, 5 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: W9BS, 9 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 20100727040509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100727040509A), Jul 27, 2010: Wolseley Mo SE5-A, Seymour, IN, Substantial damage. On 07/27/2010, at approximately 1250Z, a homebuilt experimental Wolseley SE5-A crashed in the grass, approximately 30 feet southwest of runway 14-32 at Freeman… ## Other investigations on N93725 (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI08CA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA168), Jun 23, 2008: Wolseley Motors SE5-A (N93725), Seymour, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot/builder's failure to manufacture the airplane with an appropriate engine thrust angle. Contributing to the accident was the pilot/builder's adjustment of the horizontal stabilizer which… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 22, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76776. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 972 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336394&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statements (item 2, .PDF, 920 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336395&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336396&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.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.