# NTSB CEN20CA146: Pitts S2, N487J, Fort Worth, TX, April 10, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 10, 2020, 17:44 local (22:44 UTC) - Place: Fort Worth, TX - Coordinates: 32.815555, -97.543052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8156&lon=-97.5431&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 101165 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101165/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101165 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA146 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the fuel level, 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: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2210006), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2210006), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2210006), [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. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2210006), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2210006), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2210006), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2210006), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2210006), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2210006), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=2210006), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during his preflight inspection, he determined that the fuel tank was about 1/2 full (12 gallons). After the airplane departed the airport and reached about 1,300 ft above ground level, the engine lost all power. The pilot turned back to the airport and chose a field for a forced landing. The airplane landed hard, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane then flipped over and came to rest upside down, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tank contained about 1 gallon of fuel. Following the accident, the pilot stated that he realized he had misread the fuel gauge and that there were only about 3 gallons of fuel onboard at takeoff. Based on this information, it is likely the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during his preflight inspection, he perceived the fuel tank was about half full of fuel. After the airplane departed the airport and reached about 1,300 ft above ground level, the engine lost all power. The pilot turned back to the airport and selected a field for a forced landing, but realized the airplane was not able to glide to that field and so he selected a closer field. The airplane landed hard and nosed over, which damaged the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed the fuel tank contained about 1 gallon of fuel. Following the accident, the pilot stated he misread the fuel gauge. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N487J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N487J-2020-06-25), registration cancelled 2020-06-25, S/N 5127, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Pitts S2 (B) - Registry model: [Christen Industries PITTS S-2B](https://openairdocs.org/model/christen-industries-pitts-s-2b) (registry code 2210006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-series) (registry code 41568, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5127 - Year built: 1987 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2020, 1,951 hours before - Departed: Forth Worth, TX - Destination: CPT, Cleburne, TX - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; airline transport, private, military, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 6, 2020; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 20,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KNFW, 6 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 20200410005929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200410005929A), Apr 10, 2020: Christen Industries Inc PITTS S-2B, Fort Worth, TX, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] PIC of N487J departed 2TE2 with one passenger on board. N487J experience loss of engine power at approximately 2,000 feet MSL. [privacy… ## Other investigations on N487J (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 NYC07CA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07CA198), Aug 19, 2007: Christen Industries Pitts S-2B (N487J), Springfield, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during landing. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101165. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484212&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo of Airplane at Accident Site (item 2, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484213&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20Airplane%20at%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Record of Correspondence with FAA (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484214&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Correspondence%20with%20FAA-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.