# NTSB CEN12LA446: SC Iar Sa Brasov IAR 825, N825BA, Peru, IL, July 15, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 15, 2012, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Peru, IL
- Coordinates: 41.349998, -89.152778 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3500&lon=-89.1528&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 November 26, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - DuPage FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84337
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA446
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84337/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84337
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA446

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [SC Iar Sa Brasov IAR 825, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05621WI), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [SC Iar Sa Brasov IAR 825, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=05621WI), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/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: [SC Iar Sa Brasov IAR 825, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05621WI), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [SC Iar Sa Brasov IAR 825, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05621WI), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [SC Iar Sa Brasov IAR 825, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05621WI), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [SC Iar Sa Brasov IAR 825, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05621WI), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the airplane was topped off with fuel before departing on the cross-country flight. He stated that after flying for about two hours the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power while in the traffic pattern at the intended destination. He subsequently made a forced landing into a nearby cornfield because the airplane did not have sufficient altitude to glide to the runway. A postaccident examination revealed that the left wing fuel tank was void of any usable fuel. About 14 gallons of fuel were recovered from the right wing fuel tank during the disassembly and recovery of the wreckage. The supply line to the engine fuel control unit was void of any fuel. The fuel tank selector valve was positioned to draw fuel from both wing tanks. The engine started and ran uneventfully during a brief postaccident operational test run. Additional testing established that the fuel tank selector valve yielded equivalent flow rates in all positions. Although the fuel tank selector valve was found in the setting to draw fuel from both wing tanks following the accident, the loss of engine power was likely due to fuel starvation while operating with the selector valve positioned to the empty left wing tank.

## Factual narrative

On July 15, 2012, about 1215 central daylight time, a SC IAR SA Brasov model IAR 825 airplane, N825BA, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Peru, Illinois. The airline transport pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Gazelle 175, Inc, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The cross-country flight departed Clark Regional Airport (KJVY), Sellersburg, Indiana, at 1015, and had the intended destination of Illinois Valley Regional Airport (KVYS), Peru, Illinois. The pilot reported that earlier in the day he flew the turbo-prop airplane, an experimental exhibition-category military trainer, from Johnson City Airport (0A4), Johnson City, Tennessee, to KJVY. He stated that following that flight, which he estimated was 1 hour 30 minutes in duration, the airplane was topped-off with 64 gallons of Jet-A fuel before he departed on the accident flight. He reported that after flying for about 2 hours the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power while in the traffic pattern for runway 36 at the intended destination. He made a forced landing into a nearby corn field because the airplane did not have sufficient altitude to glide to the runway. The right wing was substantially damaged during the forced landing. The pilot reported that the fuel consumption rate during the accident flight, according to an electronic fuel-flow instrument installed in the cockpit, was approximately 36.5 gallons per hour. He stated that although a majority of the cruise segment was flown at 84-percent engine power while at 5,000 feet mean seal level, various engine power settings and altitudes were used to avoid adverse weather encountered during the flight. The airplane's total fuel capacity was 95 gallons (89.7 gallons usable), evenly distributed between the right and left wing tanks. A postaccident examination revealed that the left wing fuel tank was void of any usable fuel. Approximately 14 gallons of fuel were recovered from the right wing fuel tank during the disassembly and recovery of the wreckage. The supply line to the engine fuel control unit was void of any fuel. Mechanical continuity was confirmed from the cockpit engine controls to their respective engine components. The fuel tank selector valve was positioned to draw fuel from both wing tanks. The engine, a Walter model M601D(8), serial number 291, started and ran uneventfully during a brief postaccident operational test run. Additional testing established that the fuel tank selector valve yielded equivalent flow rates in all positions. A handheld global positioning system (GPS) device was found within the wreckage. Although the GPS device did not contain any track data, the device's software flight timer indicated that the last flight segment was 1 hour 47 minutes. If the accident flight duration was 1 hour 47minutes, the resulting average fuel consumption rate was 42.5 gallons per hour. Comparably, performance data provided by the engine manufacturer indicated that an 86-percent engine power setting would result in a fuel consumption rate of 42.5 gallons per hour. The calculated average fuel consumption rate for the previous flight, from 0A4 to KJVY, was 42.7 gallons per hour. If the accident flight duration was 2 hours, as estimated by the pilot, the calculated average fuel consumption rate was 37.9 gallons per hour. At 1215 cdt, the airport's automatic weather observing station reported the following weather conditions: wind from 330 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky clear, temperature 28 degrees Celsius, dew point 21 degrees Celsius, altimeter 30.08 inches of mercury.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N825BA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N825BA), registered now, S/N 01, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SC IAR SA Brasov IAR 825
- Registry model: [SC Iar Sa Brasov IAR 825](https://openairdocs.org/model/sc-iar-sa-brasov-iar-825) (registry code 05621WI) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Walter M601D-11](https://openairdocs.org/engine/walter-m601d-11) (registry code 64011, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 01
- Airframe hours: 622
- Engines: Walter M601D 675 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richard W. Cantley
- Registered owner: Gazelle 175, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2011
- Departed: KJVY, Sellersburg, IN
- Destination: KVYS, Peru, IL
- Airport: KVYS, Illinois Valley Regional Arpt, runway 36, 5,999 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 22, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 24,700 total, 8 in this make and model, 22,100 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: KVYS, 1 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 20120715015999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120715015999A), Jul 15, 2012: Sc Iar Sa Brasov IAR 825, Peru, IL, Substantial damage. PIC of N825BA was enroute from OA4 to osh for the annual eaa convention. Pilot planned to stop for fuel at (vys) Illinois valley regional airport. During…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 14, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84337. 1.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 741 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376425&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Conversation - Mr. Richard W. Cantley (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376447&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Mr.%20Richard%20W.%20Cantley%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376427&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Conversation - FAA Inspector Robert Stack (item 4, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376451&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%20Robert%20Stack-Master.PDF
- Memorandum of Component Testing (Fuel Tank Selector Valve) (item 5, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376449&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Component%20Testing%20(Fuel%20Tank%20Selector%20Valve)-Master.PDF
- Fuel Consumption Rate Calculations (item 6, .PDF, 215 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376428&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Consumption%20Rate%20Calculations-Redacted.PDF
- Fuel Receipts (item 7, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376434&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Receipts-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Operating Manual, Excerpts (item 8, .PDF, 170 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376435&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Operating%20Manual,%20Excerpts-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.

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