# NTSB CEN21LA375: Haley Highlander, N100GH, Waller, TX, August 14, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 14, 2021, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Waller, TX · In a cornfield - Coordinates: 30.048516, -95.88081 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0485&lon=-95.8808&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 103729 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA375 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103729/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103729 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA375 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Haley M Gary HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05629V3), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Haley M Gary HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05629V3), [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. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Haley M Gary HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05629V3), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Haley M Gary HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05629V3), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Haley M Gary HIGHLANDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05629V3), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while in cruise flight, about 800 ft above ground level, the engine began to surge and lost power. In an effort to restore power, the pilot turned on the auxiliary fuel pump, but the engine did not restart. During a forced landing to a dirt road, the airplane touched down short of the road in a corn field, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The engine was subsequently removed for repair and the airplane was disassembled before the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) could conduct a detailed examination. When asked if the engine repair facility determined a cause for the loss of engine power, the pilot stated “No, the reason was lack of fuel in one tank which made the engine lose power and start surging.” The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 14, 2021, about 1330 central daylight time, a Haley Highlander, N100GH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Waller, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that while in cruise flight, about 800 ft above ground level, the engine began to surge and lost power. In an effort to restore power, the pilot turned on the auxiliary fuel pump, but the engine did not restart. During a forced landing to a dirt road, the airplane touched down short of the road in a corn field, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The engine was subsequently removed for repair and the airplane was disassembled before the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) could conduct a detailed examination. When asked if the engine repair facility determined a cause for the loss of engine power, the pilot stated “No, the reason was lack of fuel in one tank which made the engine lose power and start surging.” The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N100GH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N100GH), registered now, S/N JA186-08-09, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HALEY Highlander - Registry model: [Haley M Gary HIGHLANDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/haley-m-gary-highlander) (registry code 05629V3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 914UL](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914ul) (registry code 55553, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JA186-08-09 - Year built: 2010 - Airframe hours: 1730 - Engines: Rotax 914UL 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 2021 - Departed: TS07, Cypress, TX - Airport: TS07, Dry Creek Airport, runway 18 /36, 3,580 × 73 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Onboard weather, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Airframe parachute, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; last flight review January 24, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 8,000 total, 1,720 in this make and model, 7,500 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KDWH, 17 nm away - METAR: KDWH 171950Z AUTO 16002KT 10SM FEW055 FEW079 33/23 A2987 RMK T03300230 VRB03KT MADISHF ## 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 20210814013769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210814013769A), Aug 14, 2021: Haley M Gary HIGHLANDER, Waller, TX, Substantial damage. When contacted the pilot by phone on August 17, 2021, he indicated that on Saturday August 14, 2021, about 10 miles west of dry creek airport his aircraft… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103729. 5.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14976437&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Mfr pilot-in-command (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15115256&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 7 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15028069&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.