# NTSB CEN12LA582: Waco UPF-7, N32011, Jim Falls, WI, August 27, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 27, 2012, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Jim Falls, WI - Coordinates: 45.043334, -91.270835 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0433&lon=-91.2708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 84835 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA582 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84835/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84835 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA582 ## Probable cause The blockage of the right fuel tank vent, 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. - [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=9601302), [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: [Waco UPF-7, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a local proficiency flight, throughout which the pilot had the fuel selector set to its “both” position, the airplane’s engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and performed a forced landing, during which the airplane's left landing gear impacted an obstacle and the airplane skidded sideways and nosed over. The pilot stated that initially he did not observe fuel leaking from either fuel tank vent after the accident. However, after he opened and resealed the tank caps, the pilot noticed fuel leaking from the right fuel tank vent, consistent with an existing fuel vent obstruction having been dislodged. Subsequent examination revealed no usable fuel in the left fuel tank and 20 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank. A postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any other anomalies that would have caused a loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On August 27, 2012, about 1345 central daylight time, a Waco UPF-7 airplane, N32011, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power while in cruise near Jim Falls, Wisconsin. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial wing damage. The airplane was registered to Minocqua Holdings Ltd. and was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a VFR flight plan. The local flight originated from the Rosenbaum Field Airport, near Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, about 1150. According to the pilot’s accident report, he visually confirmed that the fuel tanks were full before departing on the proficiency flight. The pilot observed that fuel had expanded and overflowed through the right tank vent onto the upper wing and fuselage, which was cleaned from the wing by the pilot. He had the fuel tank selector valve set on the "Both" position before to departure. After two hours of flight, the airplane had a loss of engine power. The pilot immediately applied carburetor heat, which restored engine power for about 10 seconds, and he verified that the fuel tank selector valve was set to the both position. The engine subsequently had a total loss of power where the pilot could obtain short bursts of power by rocking the pitch attitude of the aircraft up and down. The pilot selected an alfalfa field for the forced landing. The airplane’s left landing gear impacted a post and the landing gear separated from the airplane. The airplane then skidded 40 to 50 feet and slid sideways due to separated left landing gear. The airplane rolled up on its nose and right wing tip. The pilot stated, "Upon exiting I did not observe any fuel leakage from either tank cap or vent." After approximately 20 to 30 minutes, he observed that the fuel tank vents had no sign of leakage from either vent. He loosened each fuel cap and found that the left tank did not contain any fuel while the right tank did contain fuel. The pilot subsequently returned to the airplane and observed that the vent was now leaking. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage. He indicated that approximately 20 gallons of fuel was reported to have been recovered from the airplane. The inspector did not find any anomalies that would have caused the loss of engine power. The pilot’s safety recommendation stated that the fuel cap should be removed and checked by blowing into the vent pipe to verify the vent is open during the preflight. At 1356, the recorded weather at the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport, near Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was: Wind 350 degrees at 8 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 29 degrees C; dew point 11 degrees C; altimeter 30.09 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32011](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N32011), registered now, S/N 5642, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WACO UPF-7 - Registry model: [Waco UPF-7](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-upf-7) (registry code 9601302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5642 - Airframe hours: 3258 - Engines: CONT MOTOR R-670-6A 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Minocqua Holdings Ltd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2012 - Departed: 3WI9, Chippewa Falls, WI - Destination: 3WI9, Chippewa Falls, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 18, 2011; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,165 total, 29 in this make and model, 2,110 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: EAU, 14 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 20120827019329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120827019329A), Aug 27, 2012: Waco UPF-7, Jim Falls, WI, Substantial damage. Aircraft was topped off with fuel the night prior to flight. Preflight noted blue dye from fuel overflow on right wing below fuel vent. Aircraft engine quit… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84835. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386612&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Communications Summary (item 2, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386644&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Communications%20Summary-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.