# NTSB CEN16LA381: Scottish Series 100 MDL 101, N432BD, Wichita, KS, September 22, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 22, 2016, 10:55 local (15:55 UTC) - Place: Wichita, KS - Coordinates: 37.747501, -97.221107 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7475&lon=-97.2211&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 6, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 94065 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA381 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94065/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94065 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA381 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper preflight inspection during which he relied on the fuel totalizer and failed to ensure that sufficient fuel was onboard for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Scottish SERIES 100 MDL 101, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=8060105), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Scottish SERIES 100 MDL 101, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8060105), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Scottish SERIES 100 MDL 101, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=8060105), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Scottish SERIES 100 MDL 101, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=8060105), [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. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Scottish SERIES 100 MDL 101, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=8060105), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Scottish SERIES 100 MDL 101, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=8060105), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Scottish SERIES 100 MDL 101, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8060105), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Scottish SERIES 100 MDL 101, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8060105), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that the engine "sputtered and went to idle" during cruise flight while returning to the departure airport after a local flight. His attempts to restore engine power were not successful. The pilot subsequently conducted a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted a fence and sustained substantial damage. During postaccident examination, the fuel totalizer indicated that 7.3 gallons of fuel remained; however, only about 1.5 gallons of fuel was recovered from the airplane. After fuel was added to each tank, an engine run was conducted, and the engine ran smoothly at idle and about 1,000 rpm, and no anomalies were noted. The pilot reported that the airplane fuel gauges were unreliable, so he used the fuel totalizer for fuel quantity information. However, the totalizer's operating instructions stated that the instrument does not provide a measurement of the fuel in the tanks and that it "should never be used as the primary indicator of the fuel quantity." The pilot should not have used the totalizer to determine the amount of fuel onboard the airplane and his reliance on the instrument without ensuring that sufficient fuel was on board for the flight led to fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On September 22, 2016, about 1055 central daylight time, a Scottish Aviation Series 100 Model 101 airplane, N432BD, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Wichita, Kansas. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to the pilot-rated passenger and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Augusta Municipal Airport (3AU), Augusta, Kansas, about 1040.The pilot reported that he planned to complete a three-leg local flight from 3AU to the Cpt Jack Thomas Memorial Airport (EQA), to the Col. James Jabara Airport (AAO), and return to 3AU. He proceeded to EQA and completed a takeoff and landing. He then flew to AAO for two additional takeoffs and landings. After departing from AAO to return to 3AU, about 2,500 ft mean sea level, the engine "sputtered and went to idle." His attempts to restore engine power were not successful. The airplane struck a wooden fence during the subsequent forced landing. The airplane sustained damage to the leading edges of the wings. A postaccident examination was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. During that examination, about 1.5 gallons of fuel was recovered from the accident airplane. The inspector did not observe any evidence of a fuel spill at the accident site. The fuel totalizer indicated that 7.3 gallons remained. A postrecovery engine exam was conducted under the supervision of an FAA inspector. Five gallons of fuel were added to each fuel tank. A slow leak (approximately 1 drip every 10 seconds) was observed from the left-wing fuel tank at two rivets near the area of the fence post strike. No leaks were observed from the right-wing fuel tank. The engine started and ran smoothly at idle and about 1,000 rpm. No anomalies with respect to the engine were observed. The pilot reported that about 16 gallons of fuel were on-board upon the initial departure from 3AU, with about 8 gallons remaining at the time of the takeoff from AAO. He added that "the aircraft utilizes a fuel totalizer to calculate fuel on board. A method to verify the totalizer's measurement of fuel remaining versus the actual fuel in [the] tanks is suggested." The pilot informed an FAA inspector that the airplane fuel gauges were unreliable so he used the fuel totalizer for that information. The fuel totalizer operating instructions noted that "the fuel remaining displayed by the FP-5(L) is not a measurement of the fuel in the tanks. . . . Even after verifying the calibration of the FP-5(L) it should never be used as the primary indicator of fuel quantity in the tanks." The instructions also added that "the use of the FP-5(L) does not eliminate or reduce the necessity for the pilot to use good flight planning, preflight and in-flighttechniques for managing fuel." Federal regulations [14 CFR 91.205(b)(9)] require an operable fuel gauge indicating the quantity of fuel in each tank for all types of operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N432BD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N432BD-2018-06-01), registration cancelled 2018-06-01, S/N 163, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCOTTISH AVIATION SERIES 100 MDL 101 - Registry model: [Scottish SERIES 100 MDL 101](https://openairdocs.org/model/scottish-series-100-mdl-101) (registry code 8060105) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6) (registry code 41576, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 163 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 5370 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 10, 2016, 28 hours before - Departed: 3AU, Augusta Muni, KS - Destination: 3AU, Augusta Muni, KS - Airport: AAO, Col. James Jabara - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 27, 2016; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 108 total, 5 in this make and model, 65 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AAO, 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 20160922023029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160922023029A), Sep 22, 2016: Scottish Aviation SERIES 100 MDL 101, Wichita, KS, Substantial damage. On September 22, 2016, at approximately 1050 central daylight time (1550 universal coordinated time), the airman, holder of a private pilot certificate and… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 16, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94065. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 786 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453321&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453322&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statements (item 3, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453323&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statements-Master.PDF - Photo of Fuel Totalizer (FAA Photo) (item 4, .PDF, 356 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453324&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20Fuel%20Totalizer%20(FAA%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Fuel Totalizer Operating Instructions -- Excerpts (item 5, .PDF, 494 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453325&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Totalizer%20Operating%20Instructions%20--%20Excerpts-Master.PDF - FAA Regulation -- Equipment Requirements (14 CFR 91.205) (item 6, .PDF, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453326&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Regulation%20--%20Equipment%20Requirements%20(14%20CFR%2091.205)-Master.PDF - Weather Documentation (item 7, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453327&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Documentation-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.