# NTSB CEN15LA296: Colonial C 1, N257B, Chico, TX, July 5, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 5, 2015, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Chico, TX - Coordinates: 33.29, -97.836112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2900&lon=-97.8361&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 21, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 91506 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA296 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91506/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91506 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA296 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the unsnapped fuel bladder, which resulted in an inaccurate fuel quantity indication, and the pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning, during which he relied solely on the fuel gauges to determine the amount of fuel on board. ## 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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [Colonial C-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=5110102), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Colonial C-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=5110102), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel indication system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Colonial C-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840/cases.md?model=5110102), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel storage](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Colonial C-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810/cases.md?model=5110102), [All aircraft, 60 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Colonial C-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=5110102), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Colonial C-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=5110102), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Colonial C-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=5110102), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Colonial C-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=5110102), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had flown the airplane about 8 to 10 times after its most recent fueling and that he intended to fly to the destination airport to refuel the airplane. Before departure, the fuel quantity gauge indicated that the fuel tank was about 3/8 full of fuel. About 5 minutes after departure, the engine experienced a loss of power, so the pilot conducted a forced landing in a field, during which the airplane landed hard. A postaccident examination revealed that the fuel bladder tank was collapsed, and a small amount of unmeasured fuel was observed. The fuel system remained intact, and there was no evidence of a fuel spill at the accident site. The engine operated normally when the fuel trapped in the tank was freed by rocking the wings. It is likely that the small amount of fuel in the fuel tank was unusable during the flight and was insufficient to reach the engine. The pilot stated that the fuel bladder had become unsnapped from the wing, which allowed the fuel quantity transmitter to indicate a false reading. However, the pilot did not conduct adequate preflight fuel planning to ensure there was sufficient fuel on board because he relied solely on the fuel gauges. ## Factual narrative On July 5, 2015, about 1815 central daylight time, a Colonial C-1 Skimmer amphibious airplane, N257B, made a hard forced landing near Chico, Texas. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the pilot received serious injuries. 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 and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed the Bridgeport Municipal Airport (XBP), Bridgeport, Texas, about 1810, and was en route to the Bowie Municipal Airport (0F2), Bowie, Texas. The pilot reported that he had flown the airplane 8-10 times after the most recent refueling. On the day of the accident he intended to refuel the airplane at 0F2. Prior to departure the fuel quantity gauge indicated about 3/8 full of fuel. About 5 minutes after departure the engine power reduced to 1,700 rpm and then 1,000 rpm. He identified an open field for a forced landing; the airplane landed hard. The pilot stated that the fuel bladder had come unsnapped from the wing which allowed the fuel quantity transmitter to give a false reading. The pilot stated that when he bought the airplane, he also repaired and reassembled it. According to the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane sustained damage to the fuselage. The fuel bladder tanks were collapsed and a small amount of unmeasured fuel was observed. The fuel system remained intact and there was no evidence of a fuel spill at the accident site. During the postaccident examination, the FAA inspector stated the main fuel line to the engine was loosened and the electric fuel pump operated; fuel flowed freely from the open fuel line. The fuel line was reconnected and the engine starter was initiated. The engine immediately started and operated until the remaining trapped fuel was exhausted. The wings were rocked up and down to free more trapped fuel and the engine restarted. The engine operated normally with no apparent mechanical anomalies until the remaining fuel was exhausted. Flight control continuity was confirmed to all flight and engine controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N257B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N257B-2018-05-03), registration cancelled 2018-05-03, S/N 17, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: COLONIAL C 1 - Registry model: [Colonial C-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/colonial-c-1) (registry code 5110102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 989 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Harold D Love - Registered owner: Harold D Love - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 2015 - Departed: XBP, BRIDGEPORT, TX - Destination: 0F2, BOWIE, TX - Airport: XBP, Bridgeport Muni, runway 18, 4,004 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 15, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 1,996 total, 10 in this make and model, 1,890 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 11 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KXBP, 7 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 20150705014149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150705014149A), Jul 5, 2015: Colonial C-1, Chico, TX, Substantial damage. The owner topped off the single fuel tanks four days prior to the accident. The pilot stated he flew "8 to 10 times". Aircrasft was in cruise flight when the… ## Other investigations on N257B (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 NYC69F0143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC69F0143), Jul 28, 1968: Colonial C-1 (N257B), Gardenville, NY, destroyed ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 23, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91506. 680 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 364 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434222&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Correspondence - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434224&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 255 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434223&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.