# NTSB CEN10CA532: Robertson Velocity, N112TH, Wooster, OH, September 9, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 9, 2010, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Wooster, OH - Coordinates: 40.880279, -81.89167 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8803&lon=-81.8917&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-CLE-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77253 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA532 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77253/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77253 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA532 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel planning. ## 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: [Robertson James F VELOCITY STD/RG-E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05623N8), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robertson James F VELOCITY STD/RG-E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05623N8), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Robertson James F VELOCITY STD/RG-E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05623N8), [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. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Robertson James F VELOCITY STD/RG-E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05623N8), [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: [Robertson James F VELOCITY STD/RG-E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05623N8), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Robertson James F VELOCITY STD/RG-E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05623N8), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, prior to departure, the fuel system sight gages indicated he had over 25 gallons of fuel on board; he did not visually check the fuel level in the tanks. Upon reaching his destination, the pilot made a low approach over the runway, climbed, and flew to an area about 5 miles from the airport to wait for another airplane to land ahead of him. The engine experienced a loss of power and he maneuvered the airplane into a glide back to the airport. Realizing he was not going to be able to reach the airport, the pilot chose a field to perform a forced landing. Just prior to touch down, the airplane stalled and landed hard. Postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed the fuel tanks were intact and there was no fuel present either in the tanks or on the ground around the wreckage. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that prior to departure, the fuel system sight gages indicated he had over 25 gallons of fuel on board. The pilot did not visually check the fuel level in the tanks. Upon reaching his destination, the pilot made a low approach over the runway, climbed, and flew to an area about 5 miles from the airport to wait for another airplane to land ahead of him. The pilot reported the engine then lost power and he began a glide back toward the airport. Realizing he was not going to be able to reach the airport, he chose a field in which to land. According to the pilot, the airplane stalled just prior to touching down resulting in substantial damage to the wings and empennage. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed the fuel tanks were intact and there was no fuel present either in the tanks or on the ground around the wreckage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N112TH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N112TH-2015-04-28), registration cancelled 2015-04-28, S/N SRE042, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBERTSON VELOCITY - Registry model: [Robertson James F VELOCITY STD/RG-E](https://openairdocs.org/model/robertson-james-f-velocity-std-rg-e) (registry code 05623N8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Superior IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/superior-io-360-series) (registry code 59251, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: SRE042 - Airframe hours: 51 - Engines: Superior XP-IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robertson James F - Registered owner: Robertson James F - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 9, 2010, 51 hours before - Departed: 2G9, Somerset, PA - Destination: BJJ, Wooster, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 13, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 2,802 total, 51 in this make and model, 2,644 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 167 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 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 20100909051989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100909051989A), Sep 9, 2010: Robertson J VELOCITY ST, Wooster, OH, Substantial damage. The pilot was flying his experimental amateur built velocity aircraft N112TH from somerset pa (2G9) to Wayne County Airport (bjj) at about 3200'FT his engine… ## Other investigations on N112TH (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 ERA15LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA130), Feb 13, 2015: Robertson James F Velocity STD/RG E (N112TH), Sebastian, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of airplane control after takeoff, which resulted in collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to properly secure the cabin door and trim the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 12, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77253. 930 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 930 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337113&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.