# NTSB CEN14LA293: Knauf RV-7, N707HK, Rockwall, TX, June 16, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 16, 2014, 15:03 local (20:03 UTC) - Place: Rockwall, TX - Coordinates: 32.959999, -96.416946 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9600&lon=-96.4169&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 21, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - North Texas FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89456 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA293 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89456/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89456 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA293 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to verify the airplane's actual fuel quantity before departure, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the subsequent forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Knauf Christopher W RV-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=056230K), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Knauf Christopher W RV-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=056230K), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Knauf Christopher W RV-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=056230K), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Knauf Christopher W RV-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=056230K), [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. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Knauf Christopher W RV-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=056230K), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Knauf Christopher W RV-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056230K), [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: [Knauf Christopher W RV-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056230K), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Knauf Christopher W RV-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056230K), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the final portion of the planned 2 hour 15 minute cross-country flight, about 10 miles from the destination airport and while descending through 4,000 ft mean sea level, the engine began to run roughly and eventually lost total power. The airplane had insufficient altitude remaining to glide to the closest airport, so the pilot completed a forced landing to a nearby road. The pilot had to maneuver the airplane over a row of trees shortly before landing, which reduced the airspeed below best glide speed, and, as a result, the airplane landed hard on the road. The airplane bounced and came to rest on its landing gear in a ditch located alongside the road. A postaccident visual examination established that there was no usable fuel in either wing fuel tank. Additionally, both wing tanks appeared to be undamaged, and there was no evidence of a fuel leak. The pilot reported that the airplane was equipped with capacitive fuel sending units in each wing fuel tank; however, since their installation, the fuel sending units had been unreliable in providing accurate fuel levels. He stated that he added 14 gallons of fuel to the right fuel tank and estimated that the airplane fuel load was about 29 gallons before departure, which would have provided adequate fuel for the flight; however, he did not visually confirm or measure the actual amount of fuel in the left wing fuel tank, which was not refueled before departure. The pilot reported that the total loss of engine power experienced during the accident flight was due to fuel exhaustion. Additionally, the pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had verified the actual amount of fuel available in both fuel tanks before departing on the flight. ## Factual narrative On June 16, 2014, about 1503 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Knauf model RV-7 airplane, N707HK, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing near Rockwall, Texas. The airline transport pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that departed from the Charles W. Baker Airport (2M8), Millington, Tennessee, at 1240, en route to the Rockwall Municipal Airport (F46), Rockwall, Texas.The pilot reported that his preflight planning indicated that the 352 nautical mile (nm) direct flight should have taken about 2 hours 15 minutes, using about 21.6 gallons of fuel. Before departing, he added 14 gallons of fuel to the right wing fuel tank, which nearly topped-off the 21 gallon fuel tank. The left tank was not refueled before departure. The pilot stated that he estimated that the airplane fuel load was about 29 gallons before departure; however, he did not visually confirm or measure the actual amount of fuel in the left wing fuel tank. The pilot reported that his normal fuel-burn schedule would be to utilize fuel from the left wing tank for takeoff, climb-to-cruise altitude, and landing flight phases. Fuel from the right wing tank was used for cruise flight and cruise-descent flight phases. The pilot stated that during the accident flight he selected the right wing fuel tank just before reaching the final cruise altitude of 10,500 feet mean sea level (msl). He reported that he exhausted all available fuel from the right wing fuel tank when the airplane was established in cruise flight near Hot Springs, Arkansas (about 190 nm from the destination airport). He then repositioned the fuel selector to draw fuel from the left fuel tank and continued toward the planned destination. The pilot initiated a cruise-descent when the airplane was about 32 nm from the destination airport. When the airplane was about 10 nm from the destination airport, while descending through 4,000 feet msl, the engine began to run rough and eventually lost total power. With the airport insight, the pilot established best glide airspeed and feathered the propeller in an attempt to extend the airplane's glide. Ultimately, the airplane did not have sufficient altitude to reach the airport and a forced landing was made to a nearby road about 2 miles northeast of the airport. The pilot reported that he had to maneuver the airplane over a row of trees shortly before landing, which reduced the airspeed below best glide speed, and as a result, the airplane landed hard on the road. The airplane bounced and came to rest on its landing gear in a ditch located alongside the road. The right main wing spar sustained substantial damage during the forced landing. Following the accident, a visual inspection, completed by the pilot, established that there wasno useable fuel in either wing fuel tank. Additionally, both wing tanks appeared to be undamaged and there was no evidence of a fuel leak. The pilot reported that the airplane was equipped with capacitive fuel sending units in each wing fuel tank; however, since their installation, the fuel sending units had been unreliable in providing accurate fuel levels. The pilot reported that the total loss of engine power experienced during the accident flight was due to fuel exhaustion. Additionally, the pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented had he verified the actual amount of fuel available in both fuel tanks before departing on the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N707HK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N707HK), registered now, S/N 71887 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KNAUF RV-7 - Registry model: [Knauf Christopher W RV-7](https://openairdocs.org/model/knauf-christopher-w-rv-7) (registry code 056230K) (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: 71887 - Year built: 2010 - Airframe hours: 82 - Engines: Superior IO-360-B1FD2 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 17, 2013, 6 hours before - Departed: 2M8, Millington, TN - Destination: F46, Rockwall, TX - Airport: F46, Rockwall Municipal Airport - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 19, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,439 total, 80 in this make and model, 2,293 as pilot in command, 82 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 12 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: F46, 2 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 20140616008439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140616008439A), Jun 16, 2014: Knauf Christopher W RV-7, Rockwall, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot departed 2M8 at approximatly 1300L with what he thought was full fuel. He topped off the right tank with fuel the day prior. Around hot springs Arkansas… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 3, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89456. 587 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 258 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434428&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation (Christopher Knauf) (item 2, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434429&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20(Christopher%20Knauf)-Master.PDF - Email Correspondence Concerning Fuel Load and Distrubution (item 3, .PDF, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434430&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20Correspondence%20Concerning%20Fuel%20Load%20and%20Distrubution-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (Brent Covey) (item 4, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434431&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20(Brent%20Covey)-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.