# NTSB CEN17LA092: Zenith CH750 Stol, N1972C, Jennings, LA, January 30, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 30, 2017, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Jennings, LA
- Coordinates: 30.243333, -92.673332 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2433&lon=-92.6733&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94670
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94670/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94670
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA092

## Probable cause

A failure of the right fuel tank to supply fuel to the engine for reasons that could not be determined, 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.

- [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Brammer Chris M JR ZENITH CH 750 STOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=056343U), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Brammer Chris M JR ZENITH CH 750 STOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=056343U), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Brammer Chris M JR ZENITH CH 750 STOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056343U), [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: [Brammer Chris M JR ZENITH CH 750 STOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056343U), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Brammer Chris M JR ZENITH CH 750 STOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056343U), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot had recently completed building the airplane and had flown it about 10 hours. He reported that, during that time, the airplane had experienced fuel flow issues; specifically, fuel was not flowing evenly from the wing tanks. Fuel was supplied to the engine from both tanks via gravity; the tanks were not individually selectable. To remedy the uneven fuel flows, the airplane kit manufacturer suggested that the pilot add snorkels to each vented fuel tank cap. The pilot did so; however, this did not correct the uneven fuel flow. The pilot tried several combinations before closing the vented caps completely and using only snorkels, which was the configuration of the fuel system on the day of the accident. The pilot departed on the accident flight with 7 gallons of fuel in one tank and 8 gallons in the other. He flew for about one hour, and, while returning to the airport, he noted that the left fuel tank gauge was reading low and that the right fuel tank gauge was reading high. The engine subsequently experienced a total loss of power and the pilot performed an emergency landing in a field short of the runway. Although the loss of engine power is consistent with fuel starvation, it could not be determined why the fuel in the right tank failed to supply the engine; nor could the underlying reason for the uneven fuel flow be determined based on the information available.

## Factual narrative

On January 30, 2017, about 1000 central standard time, the pilot of a Zenith CH750 STOL, N1971C, made a forced landing in a field 3 miles east of Jennings, Louisiana, after the engine lost power. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated from Jennings, Louisiana, Airport (3R7) about 0900. The pilot had recently completed building the airplane and had logged about 10 hours. He was having fuel flow issues; specifically, fuel was not flowing evenly from the wing tanks. The Zenith CH750 is a high wing airplane and the fuel tanks, each holding 15 gallons, are in each wing. Fuel is gravity-fed to the carburetor and engine. Early tests showed a fuel flow of 2.5 gallons per minute via gravity feed, and 1.5 gallons per minute with the auxiliary fuel pump on. The vented fuel caps were plumbed together with a T-fitting above and behind the pilot seats. Fuel flowed down to an ON/OFF selector valve before travelling to a gascolator, an in-line fuel filter, an auxiliary fuel pump, and the carburetor. Sitting on the ramp, the fuel level in each tank evened out to within ¼-gallon of each other within minutes. Because of the uneven fuel flows, Zenith – the airplane kit manufacturer -- suggested that the pilot add snorkels to each vented cap. The pilot did so and the next test flight revealed fuel was being pushed out of one tank and draining from the opposite tank. The pilot tried several combinations before closing the vented caps completely and using only snorkels. On the morning of the accident, the pilot departed 3R7 with 7 gallons of fuel in one tank and 8 gallons in the other. He flew for about one hour, performing several full power climbs as per the Phase 1 certification protocol. Returning to the airport, he noted the left fuel tank gauge was reading low and the right fuel tank gauge was reading high. Zenith had told him that once the fuel level in one tank reached 1 to 2 gallons, the other tank would continue to supply fuel. He was aligned with the runway and on a 3-mile final approach and 1,800 when the engine lost power. Realizing he could not glide to the airport and was approaching a fence line with trees and a power line, he elected to make a forced landing in a field. When the airplane touched down, the nose gear dug into the soft ground and the airplane nosed over. The pilot said, "The cause of the crash. . .was fuel starvation due to the left tank running empty and the right tank not flowing to the engine."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1972C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1972C), registered now, S/N 75-10246, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ZENITH CH750 STOL
- Registry model: [Brammer Chris M JR ZENITH CH 750 STOL](https://openairdocs.org/model/brammer-chris-m-jr-zenith-ch-750-stol) (registry code 056343U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 75-10246
- Year built: 2016
- Airframe hours: 10
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: 3R7, Jennings, LA
- Destination: 3R7, Jennings, LA
- Airport: 3R7, Jennings, runway 26, 5,002 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 18, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 126 total, 17 in this make and model, 126 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 149 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg

## 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 20170130001359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170130001359A), Jan 30, 2017: Zenith CH750 STOL, Jennings, LA, Destroyed. Piolot was returning to K3R7 (Jennings) because of low fuel in left wing and high fuel in right. He was line up on rwy 26, 3 miles out when the engine quit.…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 18, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94670. 1.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456223&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Pilot's Statement to FAA (item 2, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456224&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Email from FAA's Michael Stanley (item 3, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456225&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20from%20FAA%27s%20Michael%20Stanley-Master.PDF
- Report Photos (item 4, .PDF, 3 photos, 388 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456226&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20Photos-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.

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