# NTSB CEN21LA046: Navion A, N4856K, Fremont, MI, November 5, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 5, 2020, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Fremont, MI - Coordinates: 43.435343, -85.99581 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4353&lon=-85.9958&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 102254 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102254/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102254 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA046 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper positioning of the fuel selector during takeoff, which was not in accordance with the preflight checklist and resulted in fuel starvation, a subsequent total loss of engine power, and an aerodynamic stall during an attempted forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ryan NAVION A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=6150162), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/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: [Ryan NAVION A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=6150162), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Ryan NAVION A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=6150162), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Ryan NAVION A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=6150162), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was conducting a local flight with one passenger onboard. The pilot completed the pretakeoff checklist and engine run-up with no problems noted. During the initial climb, the engine “sputtered” and then lost total power. The pilot attempted to conduct a forced landing to grassy terrain, during which the airplane stalled and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector was in the “right tip-tank” position. However, according to the preflight checklist, the fuel selector should have been in the “main fuel tank” position during takeoff. Based on the found fuel selector position, it is likely that the fuel unported from the tip tanks, which resulted in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4856K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4856K), registered now, S/N NAV-4-1856, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NAVION A - Registry model: [Ryan NAVION A](https://openairdocs.org/model/ryan-navion-a) (registry code 6150162) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E225 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (registry code 17015, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: NAV-4-1856 - Year built: 1949 - Airframe hours: 5207 - Engines: Continental E-225-4 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 2020, 11 hours before - Airport: FFX, Fremont Municipal Airport, runway 28, 3,502 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 329.1 total, 28.4 in this make and model, 286.1 as pilot in command, 12.1 in the last 90 days, 2.5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KFFX - METAR: KFFX 051935Z AUTO 22009G15KT 10SM CLR 16/08 A3008 RMK AO2 T01640077 ## 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 20201105015819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201105015819A), Nov 5, 2020: Ryan NAVION A, Fremont, MI, Substantial damage. On November 5, 2020 at approximately 2:30 pm eastern standard time (EST), N4856K, a Ryan Navion A aircraft, registered to and operated by a private pilot,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 9, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102254. 9.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11638347&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN21LA046%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 968 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11638244&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Navion preflight checklist (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11641433&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Navion%20Checklist-Rel.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.