# NTSB CEN15LA355: World Spirit, N65XT, Granbury, TX, August 7, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 2015, 11:40 local (16:40 UTC) - Place: Granbury, TX - Coordinates: 32.460483, -97.709625 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4605&lon=-97.7096&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 6, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; North Texas FSDO, World Aircraft Company - NTSB case key (mKey): 91769 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA355 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91769/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91769 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA355 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to use the fuel boost pump following the loss of engine power and the fuel system’s inadequate design, which did not allow for equalization of fuel between the fuel tanks and led to a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and subsequent forced landing. ## 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 specified (probable cause); cases with it: [World SPIRIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=060008S), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel pumps](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [World SPIRIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822/cases.md?model=060008S), [All aircraft, 71 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [World SPIRIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=060008S), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Design (probable cause); cases with it: [World SPIRIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=060008S), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [World SPIRIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=060008S), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [World SPIRIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=060008S), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [World SPIRIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=060008S), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [World SPIRIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=060008S), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [World SPIRIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=060008S), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [World SPIRIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060008S), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight. The pilot reported that, when the airplane was about 4 miles from the airport, he made a series of prolonged left turns at cruise altitude to allow another airplane that was in the area to land at the airport. After making the left turns, the engine experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing on a tall grass field after being unable to restart the engine. The pilot was unable to slow the airplane with full application of wheel brakes due to the tall grass, and the airplane impacted a barbed wire fence and then came to rest. Examination of the wreckage showed that the fuel system design did not allow for the equalization of fuel between the fuel tanks, which led to the engine being starved of fuel following the sustained left turns. The pilot did not use the fuel boost pump while troubleshooting the loss of engine power, which would have provided a positive fuel flow/pressure to the engine and resolved the fuel starvation condition. Following the postaccident examination of the airplane, the airplane manufacturer modified the fuel system to allow for the equalization of fuel between the fuel tanks. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 2015, at 1140 central daylight time, a World Aircraft Company Spirit, N65XT, impacted a fence and terrain during a forced landing to a field near Granbury, Texas. The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power after a series of circling left turns. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and a passenger were uninjured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight that was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from Kickapoo Downtown Airport (CWC), Wichita Falls, Texas, at 1030 and was destined to Pecan Plantation Airport (0TX1), Granbury, Texas. The pilot stated that when the airplane was about 4 miles from the destination airport, he began to make left turns to allow an inbound Piper airplane that was in the area to approach and land at the airport. As the pilot returned to an inbound course from the left turns, the engine "sputtered and shook" and the pilot made an immediate left turn from above an area that was forest to an area that was pasture. The engine then "sputtered and stopped." The pilot stated that he pushed the throttle control to the full open position, "hit the ignition," and the engine restarted. The engine ran "smoothly," and the pilot retuned the airplane back onto course to 0TX1. The pilot made a radio transmission reporting a rough running engine and "moments later" the engine "shuddered" but was still running. The pilot then made a left turn to an "open" area of terrain and the engine "sputtered and stopped." The pilot then performed a forced landing to a field. The touch down on the field was "smooth but fast" and during the rollout the pilot saw for the first time a barbed wire fence in the direction of the rollout. The pilot was unable to slow the airplane with full application of wheel brakes due to foot-tall grass and cactus, which were "like stopping on wet grass." The pilot stated that his safety recommendation was: "Always be sure to turn on the fuel pump when the engine runs rough or stops." The wreckage was initially recovered and moved to Air Salvage of Dallas. Lancaster, Texas but was later moved to World Aircraft Company, Paris, Tennessee where an examination of the wreckage could be performed. The examination was performed under the supervisor of a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector, Airworthiness from the Memphis Flight Standards District Office. The World Aircraft Company party representative indicated that there are two one-way fuel valves in the system located at the wing root (attach points). One is on a 5/16-inch line, and the other is 3/8-inch line. They were designed to allow fuel flow in one-direction to preclude the fuel venting on the ramp. Following the circumstances of the accident, continual banking in circle, World Aircraft Company modified the system by replacing thesmaller of the two valves with a union in its place. This will allow the fuel to flow back into the tank, thus enabling the ability to equalize fuel distribution. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65XT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N65XT), registered now, S/N AA041115041 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WORLD AIRCRAFT CO SPIRIT - Registry model: [World SPIRIT](https://openairdocs.org/model/world-spirit) (registry code 060008S) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA041115041 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 145.2 - Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 4, 2015 - Departed: CWC, Wichita Falls, TX - Destination: 0TX1, Granbury, TX - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 766 total, 55 in this make and model, 766 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: GDJ, 9 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 20150807015249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150807015249A), Aug 7, 2015: World Aircraft Co SPIRIT, Acton, TX, Substantial damage. The aircraft was on approach to pecan plantation airport (0TX1) when the engine quit running. The pilot was able to start the engine again only to have it quit… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91769. 929 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 696 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454271&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Correspondence - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454272&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Correspondence%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 3, .PDF, 203 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454273&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-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.