# NTSB CEN14LA472: Ohlgren Brent E RV-6A, N419B, Marshalltown, IA, September 1, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 2014, 17:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Marshalltown, IA - Coordinates: 42.038965, -92.905053 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0390&lon=-92.9051&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 90003 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA472 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90003/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90003 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA472 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's misjudgment of the amount of fuel onboard prior to flight. ## 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 · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ohlgren Brent E RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05608ZI), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ohlgren Brent E RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05608ZI), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ohlgren Brent E RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05608ZI), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Ohlgren Brent E RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05608ZI), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Ohlgren Brent E RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05608ZI), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Ohlgren Brent E RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05608ZI), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot said he visually checked and verified that the right wing fuel tank was just under half full and that the left wing fuel tank was just over half full prior to takeoff. As the airplane approached the destination, about 190 nm from the departure airport, the pilot decided to conduct a practice visual approach. Shortly after turning onto final approach, the engine lost power. After employing emergency procedures, the pilot was able to restore power and climbed the airplane to 3,100 feet. He then checked the fuel gauges, which both indicated one-eighth full. The engine then lost power a second time. The pilot made a forced landing in a bean field, and the airplane nosed over. During postaccident examination, no fuel sloshing could be heard when the wings were rocked; both wing fuel caps were then removed from the inverted airplane and no fuel leaked out. The airplane was righted, and when the master switch was turned on, the left fuel gauge was one needle-width above empty and the right fuel gauge indicated empty. The integrity of the fuel tanks appeared to be intact, and no fuel leaked from the tanks. No fuel was visible in either fuel tank. No fuel was recovered when the left and right wing fuel sump drains were removed. After adding fuel, the engine was started and ran at idle power until it was shut down. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 2014, about 1740 central standard time, the pilot of an Ohlgren Vans RV-6A, N419B, made a forced landing in a bean field after the engine lost power 5 miles south of the Marshalltown Municipal Airport (MIW), Marshalltown, Iowa,. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated from Marv Skie-Lincoln County Airport (Y14), Tea, South Dakota, about 1615.The pilot said that prior to departing Y14, he visually checked and verified that the right wing fuel tank was "just under" half full and the left wing fuel tank was "just over" half full (a half-full tank contains 19 useable gallons). En route, the pilot switched tanks "multiple times." Approaching KMIW, the pilot decided he would practice a visual approach using the RNAV (GPS) RWY 31 instrument approach procedure. Shortly after turning onto final approach at VUNDY IAF (initial approach fix), the engine lost power. After employing emergency procedures, the pilot was able to restore power and climbed to 3,100 feet. He said he checked the fuel gauges and they both indicated 1/8-full. The engine lost power a second time. The pilot made a forced landing in a bean field and the airplane nose over. On September 2, two airworthiness inspectors and an operations inspector from the Des Moines Flight Standards District Office went to the accident site. They reported the airplane was inverted and the vertical stabilizer and rudder were crushed. The right wing outboard leading edge and tip were crushed. The nose gear was bent. The inspectors rocked the wings rocked back and forth and could not hear any fuel sloshing. Both wing fuel caps were removed and no fuel leaked out. On September 18, 2014, FAA inspectors returned to the accident site. A recovery crew was at the site and turned the aircraft over so that it was resting on its landing gear. With the master switch on, the left fuel gage was one needle-width above empty and the right fuel gage indicated empty. There was no dead or discolored vegetation around the airplane, and the integrity of the fuel tanks appeared intact. No fuel leaked from the tanks. No fuel was visible in either fuel tank. No fuel was recovered when the left and right wing fuel sump drains were removed. Fuel was added to the right tank and the engine was started. It ran at an idle power for about 30 seconds before being shut down. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N419B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N419B-2018-06-26), registration cancelled 2018-06-26, S/N 21550, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: OHLGREN BRENT E RV-6A - Registry model: [Ohlgren Brent E RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/ohlgren-brent-e-rv-6a) (registry code 05608ZI) (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: 21550 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 377 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-C1G 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Stone Jason M - Registered owner: Stone Jason M - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 4, 2014, 13 hours before - Departed: Y14, Tea, SD - Destination: KMIW, Marshalltown, IA - Airport: LMIW, Marshalltown Municipal - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 8, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 164 total, 36 in this make and model, 116 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: KMIW, 5 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 20140901016509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140901016509A), Sep 1, 2014: Ohlgren Brent E RV-6A, Marshalltown, IA, Substantial damage. The aircraft made a forced landing in a bean field after the engine lost power near the Marshalltown Municipal Airport. The aircraft nosed over after landing… ## Other investigations on N419B (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 CEN16FA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16FA114), Mar 1, 2016: Ohlgren RV 6A (N419B), Abilene, TX, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall/spin. Contributing to the accident was… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90003. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417186&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement - September 2, 2014 (item 2, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417187&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement%20-%20September%202,%202014-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement - September 18, 2014 (item 3, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417188&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement%20-%20September%2018,%202014-Redacted.PDF - Instrument Approach Procedure Chart, RNAV (GPS)RWY 31 (item 4, .PDF, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417189&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Instrument%20Approach%20Procedure%20Chart,%20RNAV%20(GPS)RWY%2031-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.