# NTSB CEN23LA010: Zenith CH 750, N550ZF, Libby, MN, October 7, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 7, 2022, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Libby, MN · Wooded area along the Mississippi River shoreline. - Coordinates: 46.7841, -93.3252 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7841&lon=-93.3252&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106094 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106094/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106094 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA010 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to the pilot’s improper fuel management, which led to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the low altitude at which the loss of engine power occurred. ## 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: [Kingery Michael C ZENITH CH-750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05629UF), [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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Kingery Michael C ZENITH CH-750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05629UF), [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. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Kingery Michael C ZENITH CH-750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05629UF), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Kingery Michael C ZENITH CH-750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05629UF), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a personal flight when the airplane had a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot stated that the flight departed with about 16 gallons of fuel distributed evenly between the left- and right-wing tanks, and both fuel tank gauges indicated about ¾ full before departure. About 30-45 minutes into the flight, the pilot noted that the left fuel tank gauge indicated about ¼ full while the right fuel tank gauge remained about ¾ full. The pilot decided to reposition the fuel selector valve to the right fuel tank to correct the fuel imbalance. The pilot stated that the location of his Apple iPad in the cockpit blocked his view of the right fuel tank gauge, so he made a “mental note” to check the right fuel tank gauge in about 30-45 minutes. The pilot reported that the flight continued uneventfully at 300 ft above ground level until the airplane had a total loss of engine power due to a lack of fuel in the right fuel tank. The engine did not restart after the pilot repositioned the fuel selector valve to BOTH, turned on the electric fuel boost pump, and engaged the electric starter. Both wings were substantially damaged during the subsequent forced landing in a wooded area. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The low altitude at which the loss of engine power occurred significantly reduced the amount of time available to the pilot to troubleshoot and restore engine power before the forced landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N550ZF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N550ZF-2023-09-15), registration cancelled 2023-09-15, S/N 75-7677, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Zenith Aircraft Company CH 750 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Kingery Michael C ZENITH CH-750](https://openairdocs.org/model/kingery-michael-c-zenith-ch-750) (registry code 05629UF) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-series) (registry code 17402, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 75-7677 - Year built: 2010 - Airframe hours: 510 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: McGregor Communications LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 6, 2022, 4 hours before - Departed: AIT, Aitkin, MN - Destination: HZX, McGregor, MN - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 13,000 total, 10 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.42 inHg - Observed at: HZX, 10 nm away - METAR: METAR KHZX 072135Z AUTO 27005KT 10SM SCT043 07/M02 A3042 RMK AO2= ## 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 20221007017339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221007017339A), Oct 7, 2022: Kingery Michael C ZENITH CH-750, Libby, MN, Substantial damage. 2022-10-07 [privacy data omitted] zenith CH-750 Libby, MN. On the return trip from aitkin, MN (kait) to mcgregor, MN (khzx) the PIC decided that he would do… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106094. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15289776&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20Pilot%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB memorandum of conversation (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15289986&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20NTSB%20Memorandum%20of%20Conversation-Rel.pdf - FAA record of conversation (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 378 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15289656&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather summary (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15289891&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20-%20Weather%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 208 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15289786&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05%20-%20Photos-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.