# NTSB CEN21LA365: Vans RV6, N443JB, Urbana, OH, August 1, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 1, 2021, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC)
- Place: Urbana, OH · Estimated - field north of the airport.
- Coordinates: 40.15119, -83.748438 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1512&lon=-83.7484&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Columbus FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103664
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA365
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103664/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103664
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA365

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning 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.

- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Baldwin James H RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05608EG), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Baldwin James H RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05608EG), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not inspected (probable cause); cases with it: [Baldwin James H RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05608EG), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Baldwin James H RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=05608EG), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Baldwin James H RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=05608EG), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/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: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Baldwin James H RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=05608EG), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Baldwin James H RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05608EG), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Baldwin James H RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05608EG), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Baldwin James H RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05608EG), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Baldwin James H RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05608EG), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot reported that he did not visually check the fuel quantity in the two wing fuel tanks before takeoff. While the airplane was on final approach to land, with the right-wing fuel tank selected, the engine stopped producing power. The airplane impacted a corn field about ½ mile away from the airport. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount and the left wing. A postaccident examination revealed that the right-wing fuel tank was empty. A Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector stated that the pilot admitted to “running out of gas.”

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N443JB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N443JB), registered now, S/N 20023, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VANS RV6
- Registry model: [Baldwin James H RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/baldwin-james-h-rv-6) (registry code 05608EG) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 20023
- Year built: 1989
- Airframe hours: 1850
- Engines: Lycoming Engines O-320 Series 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 2020
- Departed: 9OA5, Hebron, OH
- Destination: I74, Urbana, OH
- Airport: I74, Grimes Fld, runway 02/20, 4,400 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 7, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,645 total, 120 in this make and model, 1,645 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 91; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 21, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,565 total, 1,710 in this make and model, 3,565 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: KEDJ, 16 nm away
- METAR: KEDJ 011215Z AUTO 20005KT 6SM CLR 15/15 A2994 RMK AO1

## 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 20210801012289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210801012289A), Aug 1, 2021: Baldwin James H RV-6, Urbana, OH, Substantial damage. While on final to I74 aircraft N443JB experience engine failure. With insufficient altitude to attempt a restart or glide to runway pilot made emergency…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 23, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103664. 3.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12713935&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12713797&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Federal aviation administration - aviation safety inspector email (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 187 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12713827&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Email%20Redacted-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.

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