# NTSB CEN17LA038: Weatherly 620B, N2035J, Coleman, TX, November 12, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 12, 2016, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Coleman, TX - Coordinates: 31.879999, -99.279998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8800&lon=-99.2800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 20, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 94364 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94364/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94364 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA038 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Workload management](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Weatherly 620B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064000/cases.md?model=9630605), [All aircraft, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064000/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel indication system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Weatherly 620B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840/cases.md?model=9630605), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Weatherly 620B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=9630605), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Weatherly 620B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=9630605), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was practicing agricultural application operations on his first flight in the accident airplane. While climbing after completing a spray pass, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power and the pilot made a forced landing during which the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right fuel tank was intact and void of fuel, while the left tank was breached, with fuel leaking from the tank. The fuel selector was in the right tank position. No engine anomalies were observed. The pilot had been advised by the owner to switch fuel tanks after flying about 40 minutes, but failed to do so. His advice was based on the engine's typical fuel burn of about 33 gallons per hour and fuel tank capacity of 35 gallons per wing tank. The owner estimated the airplane was airborne for about one hour before the accident occurred. Given the airplane's time in flight and the lack of fuel found in the right wing tank after the accident, it is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On November 12, 2016, about 1300 central standard time, a Weatherly Aviation Company 620B airplane, N2035J, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Coleman, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Burkett Aviation under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial spraying practice flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, with no flight plan filed. The local flight departed a private strip about 1200. Flying his initial flight in the model of the accident airplane, the pilot stated that a total loss of engine power occurred during climb following a practice spray pass. The pilot executed a forced landing into an adjacent wheat field. Due to trees and a fence in the path of his rollout, he aggressively applied brake pressure, which resulted in a nose over and damage to the vertical stabilizer. The owner had informed the pilot prior to takeoff that he needed to switch from left to right tank after flying for about 40 minutes. His advice was based on the engine's typical fuel burn of about 33 gallons per hour and fuel tank capacity of 35 gallons of each wing. The owner estimated the airplane was airborne for about one hour. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and local mechanic revealed fuel leaking from a breached left tank, with the right tank intact and empty. The fuel selector was in the right tank position. After flipping the airplane upright, the propeller was rotated, with normal engine continuity. Fuel was added to the right tank and the engine was started. The engine ran for about 10 seconds and then stopped. Additional engine starts attempts were not successful, due to unavailability of a powered electrical source. The right fuel tank low level warning light was tested and initially found to inoperable. After adjusting the sensor in the right fuel tank, the warning light operated normally. The owner stated the low fuel warning system had been intermittent during previous flights. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2035J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2035J-2017-08-14), registration cancelled 2017-08-14, S/N 1592, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WEATHERLY AVIATION CO INC 620B - Registry model: [Weatherly 620B](https://openairdocs.org/model/weatherly-620b) (registry code 9630605) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1592 - Year built: 1995 - Airframe hours: 2786 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Burkett Aviation - Registered owner: Burkett Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 12, 2016 - Departed: PRI, Coleman, TX - Destination: PRI, Coleman, TX - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 27, 2015; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 615 total, 1 in this make and model, 605 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KBWD, 18 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 20161112018459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161112018459A), Nov 12, 2016: Weatherly Aviation Co Inc 620B, Coleman, TX, Substantial damage. On November 12, 2016, at 1300 CDT, a Weatherly aviation 620B aircraft bearing registration number N2035J, registered to a private owner, impacted terrain after… ## Other investigations on N2035J (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 DFW08CA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA098), Apr 13, 2008: Weatherly 620B (N2035J), Coleman, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control on the landing roll. A contributing factor was the variable wind. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94364. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451331&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.