# NTSB CEN10LA489: Meyers Industries 200C, N189M, Justin, TX, August 19, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 19, 2010, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Justin, TX - Coordinates: 33.075, -97.355278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0750&lon=-97.3553&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77025 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA489 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77025/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77025 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA489 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's improper fuel management. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Meyers Industries 200C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=5650308), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Meyers Industries 200C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5650308), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Meyers Industries 200C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=5650308), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Meyers Industries 200C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=5650308), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed with full fuel tanks on a long cross-country flight. As the pilot approached his destination airport, he initiated a rapid descent by reducing the throttle to idle and lowering the nose of the airplane. At some point, the engine stopped producing power, but the pilot didn't realize this until he was on approach to the airport because the propeller was windmilling and he was wearing a noise-cancelling headset. The pilot was unable to restart the engine or maintain altitude. As the airplane glided toward the airport, the pilot realized that the gear warning horn had not activated when he pulled the throttle to idle and had to quickly extend the landing gear manually. The pilot was unable to fully extend the gear and landed short of the runway in a pasture. The nosewheel struck a hole and separated from the airframe and the left main gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The airplane came to rest upright with the left wing tip on the ground. The propeller, left wing tip, and the leading edge of the left wing were also damaged; however, the four wing fuel tanks were not breached. The right outboard fuel tank was found empty, the right inboard fuel tank was 3/4 full, the left inboard tank was full, and the left outboard tank was 3/4 full. The fuel selector was found set to the right outboard tank position. The pilot stated that the fuel selector was set to the left inboard tank (which he estimated had 15 minutes of fuel remaining) when the engine quit and he had switched to a full tank to try and restart the engine. He said that even though the outboard fuel tanks looked empty after the accident he still had about 1.5 hours of fuel remaining and that he did not run any of the tanks out of fuel. A postaccident examination of the fuel system, ignition, and throttle assemblies revealed no mechanical deficiencies. ## Factual narrative On August 19, 2010, approximately 1500 central daylight time, N189M, a Meyers Industries Incorporated 200C, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to Propwash Airport (16X), near Justin, Texas. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private company based in Traverse City, Michigan. No flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at Front Range Airport (FTG), Denver, Colorado, about 1200. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that after departing Colorado with full fuel (80 gallons total/74 gallons usable) he climbed to an altitude of 11,500 feet to avoid operating in higher than normal air temperatures as he approached Texas. He maintained this altitude for as long as possible and then made a rapid descent to avoid entering Class B airspace as he approached his destination airport by pulling the throttle to idle and lowering the nose of the airplane. The engine subsequently stopped producing power and the pilot said he didn't recognize the power loss until he entered the traffic pattern because the propeller was windmilling and he was wearing noise-canceling headsets. The pilot said he was unable to re-start the engine or maintain altitude. As the airplane continued to glide toward the runway, he realized the gear warning horn had not activated when he pulled the throttle to idle and had to quickly extend the landing gear manually. The pilot did not have enough time to fully extend the gear and landed short of the runway in a pasture. According to the pilot, approximately 1-2 flights prior to the accident, the throttle would not go to full idle and he had to use the mixture control to shut off the engine. Plus, the landing gear warning horn was inoperative. A mechanic based in Texas troubleshot the problem and found that the throttle control and attached gear warning switch actuator assembly were worn, which caused it to get caught up on the actuator. He replaced the new assembly three days before the accident and performed an engine run-up. The engine ran normally at all RPM speeds. The pilot then flew the airplane to Colorado and said there were no problems during the flight. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who performed a post-accident examination of the airplane, stated that the fuselage sustained substantial damage when the nose gear separated and the left main gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest upright and the left wing tip was resting on the ground. The propeller, the left wing tip, and the leading edge of the left wing were also damaged; however, the four fuel tanks were not breached. The inspector, who examined the wreckage several hours after the accident, visually inspected the fuel tanks and found the right outboard fuel tank was empty, the right inboard fuel tank was 3/4 full, the left inboard tank was full, and the left outboard tank was 3/4 full.The fuel selector was found set to the right outboard tank position. However, in a written statement, the pilot stated the fuel selector was set to the left inboard tank (which he estimated had 15 minutes of fuel remaining) when the engine quit and he had "switched to the full tank" to restart the engine. He said that even though the outboard fuel tanks "looked empty" after the accident he still had about 1.5 hours of fuel remaining and that he did not run any of the tanks out of fuel. Examination of the fuel system, ignition, and throttle assemblies revealed no mechanical deficiencies. Weather at Alliance Airport (AFW), Fort Worth, Texas, about 6 miles south of the accident, at 1453, was reported as calm winds, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 6,500 feet, light rain, temperature 37 degrees C, dewpoint 21 degrees C, and a barometric pressure setting of 29.85 inches of Hg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N189M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N189M), registered now, S/N 283, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MEYERS INDUSTRIES INC 200C - Registry model: [Meyers Industries 200C](https://openairdocs.org/model/meyers-industries-200c) (registry code 5650308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 283 - Airframe hours: 1854 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Samson Air Inc - Registered owner: Samson Air Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2010, 5 hours before - Departed: FTG, Denver, CO - Destination: 16X, Justin, TX - Airport: 16X, Propwash ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 2,008 total, 200 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: AFW, 6 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 20100819042049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100819042049A), Aug 19, 2010: Meyers Indu 200C, Justin, TX, Substantial damage. On approach, pilot stated he throttled back to idle to lose altitude, attempted to throttle up and engine would not respond, switched tanks, placed boost pump… ## Other investigations on N189M (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 NYC68F0095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC68F0095), Aug 2, 1967: Meyers 200-C (N189M), Portland, ME, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77025. 365 KB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 225 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338046&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Written Statement (item 2, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349626&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Written%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Mechanic Statement (item 3, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338067&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mechanic%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation-FAA Inspector (item 4, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338070&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-FAA%20Inspector-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.