# NTSB CEN23LA214: Progressive Aerodyne Searey LSA, N316SR, Detroit, MI, June 1, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 31, 2023, 20:30 local (Jun 1, 2023, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Detroit, MI
- Coordinates: 42.409328, -83.010174 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4093&lon=-83.0102&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: 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 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192282
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA214
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192282/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192282
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA214

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion that resulted from the pilots’ inadequate preflight planning.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Progressive Aerodyne SEAREY LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=060009O), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Progressive Aerodyne SEAREY LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=060009O), [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.

- [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Progressive Aerodyne SEAREY LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=060009O), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Progressive Aerodyne SEAREY LSA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=060009O), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airplane was returning to the departure airport after a local training flight when the engine lost all power. Restart attempts were not successful. The pilot reported that he glanced at the fuel gauge and it indicated ¼ full. During the forced landing the airplane contacted trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed that only a trace amount of fuel was visible in the semi-transparent plastic fuel tank; the tank did not appear to be breached. After the airplane was removed from the accident site and leveled on a trailer used for recovery, the fuel gauge read empty. A subsequent engine run was performed where fuel was added to the tank and the engine started. The engine was operated from idle to full throttle and no anomalies were detected during the engine run. Based on the pilot’s report, the flight duration was about 2.5 hours; however, recorded flight track data indicated the flight actually lasted 3 hours. Available information indicates the flight crew failed to assure there was an adequate fuel supply for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a complete loss of engine power.

## Factual narrative

On May 31, 2023, about 2030 eastern daylight time, a Progressive Aerodyne Inc Searey LSA, N316SR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Detroit, Michigan. The pilot and certificated flight instructor were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was inbound for landing at the Coleman A Young Municipal Airport (DET), Detroit, Michigan, and the pilot was instructed to report a 2-mile left base for runway 15. The tower controller radioed for a progress report and received no response. The pilot later called the tower to report that the airplane’s engine lost power and he landed in a residential neighborhood between two garages. During the forced landing the airplane struck trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot/owner stated that the airplane had not flown since October 2020, and he had the mechanic that had constructed the airplane perform a condition inspection that was completed on May 26, 2023. The accident flight was an “instruction/currency” flight with a flight instructor. According to the pilot’s report, the flight originated about 1800. During the return portion of the flight, about 7 miles from the airport, they contacted the DET air traffic control and were advised to expect a visual approach for runway 15. Shortly afterward the airplane’s engine stopped producing power. Attempts to restart the engine were not successful. The restart attempts included activating the auxiliary fuel pump. He noted that he glanced at the fuel gauge and it indicated ¼ full. During the restart attempts the flight instructor assumed control of the airplane while the pilot attempted to restart the engine. Automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) data recorded the airplane when it departed DET at 1730 and the final position was recorded at 2030, indicating that the airplane was aloft for 3 hours. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed that only a trace amount of fuel was visible in the semi-transparent plastic fuel tank; the tank did not appear to be breached. After the airplane was removed from the accident site and leveled on a trailer used for recovery the fuel gauge read empty. A subsequent engine run was performed where fuel was added to the tank and the engine started. The engine was operated from idle to full throttle and no anomalies were detected during the engine run.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N316SR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N316SR), registered now, S/N 1064, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PROGRESSIVE AERODYNE INC SEAREY LSA
- Registry model: [Progressive Aerodyne SEAREY LSA](https://openairdocs.org/model/progressive-aerodyne-searey-lsa) (registry code 06001AO) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1064
- Year built: 2016
- Airframe hours: 400
- Engines: ROTAX 912ULS SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, May 26, 2023, 6 hours before
- Airport: DET, Coleman A Young Muni, runway 15, 5,092 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial, private, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,984 total, 66 in this make and model, 1,967 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Flight instructor; age 72; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,100 total, 8 in this make and model, 69 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: KDET
- METAR: METAR KDET 010053Z 12005KT 10SM CLR 26/09 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP177 T02560089=

## 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 20230531008489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230531008489A), May 31, 2023: Progressive Aerodyne Inc SEAREY LSA, Detroit, MI, Substantial damage. During landing approach phase of flight CFI took control of aircraft after engine quit. Pilot recieving instruction for currency atempted restart. Engine did…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 18, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192282. 74.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16662845&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- ADS-B data (item 2, XLSX, 26.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16663465&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=20230531_A35EBB_517054438_ADSB-Rel.xlsx
- Roc with FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16663475&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20ROC-Rel.pdf
- Accident photographs (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 5 photos, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16663108&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf
- Postaccident engine run video (item 5, MOV, 43.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16663175&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=MVI_1201-Rel.MOV

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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