# NTSB CEN14LA033: Clevenger Jimmie B Pitts S 1S, N67JC, Wellington, KS, October 31, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 31, 2013, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Wellington, KS - Coordinates: 37.322776, -97.388336 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3228&lon=-97.3883&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88369 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88369/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88369 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA033 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to a malfunctioning fuel pump. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel pumps](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Clevenger Jimmie B PITTS S-1S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822/cases.md?model=7220677), [All aircraft, 71 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Clevenger Jimmie B PITTS S-1S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7220677), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Clevenger Jimmie B PITTS S-1S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=7220677), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Clevenger Jimmie B PITTS S-1S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7220677), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot flew the airplane for about 30 minutes and then returned to the airport for landing. As the airplane approached the airport, the engine lost power, and the pilot conducted a forced landing short of the runway. Fuel was found onboard, and it was not contaminated. Testing of the engine's fuel pump revealed that the fuel pressure oscillated due to a malfunctioning relief valve in the fuel pump. It is likely that the engine lost fuel pressure and subsequent power during the accident flight as a result of the malfunctioning fuel pump. ## Factual narrative On October 31, 2013, about 1230 central daylight time, a Pitts S-1S, airplane, N67JC, impacted terrain after experiencing a loss of engine power near Wellington, Kansas. The commercial rated pilot, sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Wellington Municipal Airport (KEGT), Wellington, Kansas about 1200. The pilot reported to the responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector, that he earlier had flown the airplane for about thirty minutes. As he approached the airport for landing, the engine lost power and was unable to make the runway. The pilot executed a forced landing short of the runway and impacted a berm, which resulted in substantial damage to the right rear wing spar. Additionally, fuel was available and appeared free of contaminants. An initial examination of the engine did not reveal a reason for the loss of power; however, additional testing of the fuel pump, by the owner, who is also an aircraft mechanic, revealed an issue with the fuel pump. The owner reported that during testing, the fuel pressure would oscillate, and during one test, went to zero, and the engine stopped. He added that he thought the low fuel pressure was the result of a malfunctioning relief valve in the fuel pump, and this was also the reason why the engine quit during the accident flight ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67JC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N67JC), registered now, S/N 101, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CLEVENGER JIMMIE B PITTS S 1S - Registry model: [Clevenger Jimmie B PITTS S-1S](https://openairdocs.org/model/clevenger-jimmie-b-pitts-s-1s) (registry code 7220677) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 101 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 520 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 6, 2013 - Departed: KEGT, Wellington, KS - Destination: KEGT, Wellington, KS - Airport: KEGT, Wellington Muncipal, runway 17, 4,000 × 100 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 6,250 total, 209 in this make and model, 4,760 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 2,970 °F - Altimeter: 29.69 inHg - Observed at: KAIB, 19 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 27, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88369. 324 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 292 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410782&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410783&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports (item 3, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410785&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-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.