# NTSB CEN17CA371: Vans RV7, N712RL, Itasca, TX, September 29, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 29, 2017, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Itasca, TX - Coordinates: 32.116943, -97.139724 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1169&lon=-97.1397&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 11, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 96125 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17CA371 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96125/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96125 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17CA371 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## 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: [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [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: [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during his preflight inspection, he perceived that both fuel tanks were full. Based on previous flights, full fuel tanks allowed for about 5 hours of flight endurance. About 4 hours after departure, the pilot noticed a low fuel quantity on the cockpit gauges but continued the flight toward the planned destination airport. Several minutes later, the engine lost power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane impacted a power line and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks contained no usable fuel. Following the accident, the pilot stated he should have landed earlier to refuel. He also discovered that a co-owner had not filled the fuel tanks after the previous flight, as he had expected. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during his preflight inspection, he perceived both fuel tanks were full. Based on previous flights, full fuel tanks allowed for about five hours of endurance. About four hours after departure, the pilot noticed a low fuel quantity on cockpit gages, but continued the flight toward the planned destination airport. Several minutes later, the engine lost power and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane impacted a power line and nosed-over, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed the airplane fuel tanks contained no useable fuel. Following the accident, the pilot stated he should have landed earlier to refuel. He also discovered that a co-owner had not filled the fuel tanks after the previous flight, as he expected. ## Aircraft - Registration: N712RL (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: VANS RV7 (A) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 71000 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 997 - Engines: Lycoming O-360A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 8, 2016, 134 hours before - Departed: LMO, LONGMONT, CO - Destination: INJ, HILLSBORO, TX - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,194 total, 109 in this make and model, 1,091 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KINJ, 3 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 20170929016079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170929016079A), Sep 29, 2017: Threet Richard L VANS RV-7A, Itasca, TX, Substantial damage. On September 29, 2017 at approximately 1235 central daylight time (CDT), a richard l Threet, RV-7A, N712RL, owned by csm aviation LLC, and operated by [privacy… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96125. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458497&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.