# NTSB CEN18LA125: Cub Crafters PA18 150, N226JK, Beggs, OK, March 21, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 21, 2018, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Beggs, OK - Coordinates: 35.793609, -96.029724 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7936&lon=-96.0297&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 96903 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96903/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96903 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA125 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to verify that the fuel selector was properly set before takeoff, 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. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cub Crafters PA18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2470000), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/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: [Cub Crafters PA18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2470000), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cub Crafters PA18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2470000), [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: [Cub Crafters PA18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2470000), [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: [Cub Crafters PA18-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2470000), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot stated that the takeoff was uneventful until the airplane reached about 50 ft above ground level and the engine experienced a total loss of power. The engine regained power momentarily, then lost power again. The pilot performed a forced landing during which the airplane impacted a ditch. The pilot reported that fuel selector may not have been secured in the "both" position detent at the time of the takeoff, and as a result, the engine may have lost power due to fuel starvation. A postrecovery examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On March 21, 2018, about 1745 central daylight time, a Cub Crafters PA18-150 airplane, N226JK, experienced a loss of engine power after takeoff from runway 36 (1,800 ft by 50 ft, turf) at the Eagle Creek Airport (51OK), Beggs, Oklahoma. The pilot sustained a minor injury; the passenger was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.The pilot stated that the pre-takeoff engine run up was normal. The accident takeoff was uneventful until the airplane reached about 50 ft above ground level when the engine lost power. The engine regained power momentarily, but then lost power again. The pilot executed a forced landing to an open grass area near the approach end of runway 8. The airplane impacted a ditch during the landing which caused the landing gear to collapse. The airplane came to rest upright. The left wing struts were buckled, and both wings were deformed near midspan. The lower portion of the engine cowling exhibited upward crushing damage. The engine was displaced upward and to the left. The firewall and lower fuselage were deformed. The left side of the fuselage exhibited damage to the structural tubing along the cabin and baggage compartment. A postrecovery examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a loss of engine power. A detailed summary of the examination is included in the docket associated with this accident investigation. The pilot reported that about 30 gallons of fuel were on-board before takeoff. He stated that the fuel selector may not have been fully in the both position detent at the time of the accident takeoff, and as a result, the engine might have lost power due to fuel starvation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N226JK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N226JK), registered now, S/N 9965CC, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CUB CRAFTERS PA18 150 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cub Crafters PA18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/cub-crafters-pa18-150) (registry code 2470000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 9965CC - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 958.4 - Engines: Textron Lycoming O-360-C4P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 7, 2018, 2 hours before - Departed: 51OK, Beggs, OK - Destination: 51OK, Beggs, OK - Airport: 51OK, Eagle Creek, runway 36, 1,800 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 2, 2017; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,849 total, 1,137 in this make and model, 1,797 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: RVS, 15 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 20180321009819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180321009819A), Mar 21, 2018: Cub Crafters PA18-150, Beggs, OK, Substantial damage. The private pilot and private pilot rated passenger where flying a day VFR part 91 local flight. The pilot stated the aircraft had flown 4 days prior to the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 20, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96903. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464258&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Summary of Airplane Examination (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464259&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summary%20of%20Airplane%20Examination-Master.PDF - Weather Documentation (item 3, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464260&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.