# NTSB CEN23LA133: Beech F33A, N1074W, Hilbert, WI, February 6, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 6, 2023, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Hilbert, WI - Coordinates: 44.147447, -88.163783 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1474&lon=-88.1638&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: 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: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 106885 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106885/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106885 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA133 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## 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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech F33A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/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: [Beech F33A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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: [Beech F33A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Beech F33A, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech F33A, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151425), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during initial climb through about 5,000 ft mean sea level, the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine, but the attempt was unsuccessful. Unable to return to the departure airport, the pilot conducted a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the left fuel tank contained no usable fuel, and the right fuel tank was full of fuel. After the airplane was recovered, a functional engine test run, with the right fuel tank selected, was completed with no anomalies noted. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. After the accident, the pilot stated that he should have a better understanding of engine restart procedures. The loss of engine power was attributed to fuel starvation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1074W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1074W), registered now, S/N CE-432 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH F33A - Registry model: [Beech F33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f33a) (registry code 1151425) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CE-432 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 8450 - Engines: Continental IO-550-B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2023 - Departed: ATW, Appleton, WI - Destination: LOT, Romeoville, IL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ATW - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 28, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,655 total, 827 in this make and model, 1,587 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 10 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Observed at: ATW, 15 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 20230206002929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230206002929A), Feb 6, 2023: Beech F33A, Hilbert, WI, Substantial damage. On February 6, 2023 at approximately 13:20 local time, aircraft [privacy data omitted], a Beech F33A aircraft, on a part 91, VFR flight plan with the pilot on… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106885. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15299505&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA summary (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15268559&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Summary_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 274 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15268264&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.