# NTSB CEN25LA035: De Havilland DHC-1, N420TD, East Troy, WI, November 6, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 6, 2024, 15:55 local (21:55 UTC) - Place: East Troy, WI - Coordinates: 42.797167, -88.372611 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7972&lon=-88.3726&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Air Accidents Investigation Branch, Federal Aviation Administration, Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 195455 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195455/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195455 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA035 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the inaccurate fuel gauge. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel quantity indicator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841/cases.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 1,696 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 1,696 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 138 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/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: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 1,428 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 3,824 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2801702), [All aircraft, 10,152 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the left wing fuel tank contained 3 gallons and the right wing fuel tank contained 4 gallons of fuel before departing on the accident flight. The pilot said he determined the fuel quantities during the prefight from fuel quantity gauge indications and by looking into each fuel tank to see if it was wetted with fuel. The pilot departed, performed one touch-and-go landing, then flew about 3 miles west, where he performed two steep turns before returning to the airport. The pilot reported that, while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the left wing fuel quantity gauge indicated 2 gallons, the right wing fuel quantity gauge indicated 3 gallons. While on final approach for landing, about 250-300 ft above ground level (agl) the engine lost total power. The pilot switched fuel tanks, but the engine did not regain power. The pilot performed a forced landing about 300 to 400 ft short of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. Postaccident examination revealed that the left wing fuel tank was empty and the right tank contained about 1 ½ gal of fuel. No fuel was present at the carburetor jets or the fuel supply line to the carburetor. The lack of fuel in these locations is consistent with a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. It is likely that the engine could not be restarted immediately due to air within the fuel system. Testing of the left wing fuel tank quantity gauge found the gauge was inaccurate, likely due to the presence of corrosion within the gauge assembly. Examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded engine operation. ## Factual narrative On November 6, 2024, about 1555 central standard time, a De Havilland DHC-1, N420TD, was involved in an accident near East Troy, Wisconsin. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that, during his preflight inspection, there were 3 gallons of fuel in the left wing fuel tank and 4 gallons of fuel in the right wing fuel tank. He stated that the airplane had a fuel capacity of 9 gallons per wing tank. The pilot said that he determined the fuel quantity in each tank by looking at the fuel gauges and looking into each fuel tank to see if it was wetted. The pilot departed, performed one touch-and-go landing at the airport, and then flew about 3 miles west, where he performed two steep turns. He returned to the airport, and while the airplane was on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for landing, the left wing fuel tank quantity gauge indicated 2 gallons and the right wing fuel tank quantity gauge indicated 3 gallons. While on final approach for landing at an altitude of about 250 to 300 ft agl, the engine lost total power. The pilot changed the fuel tank selector, but the engine did not regain power. The pilot performed a forced landing about 300 to 400 ft short of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector was in the right wing fuel tank position. The airplane was equipped with direct-reading fuel gauges at the inboard left and right wing, adjacent to each wing fuel filler port. Both gauges indicated zero at the accident site. The left wing fuel tank was empty, and the right wing fuel tank contained about 1 ½ gallons of fuel. No fuel leaks were present in the left and right fuel tanks. No fuel was present at the carburetor jets or the fuel supply line to the carburetor. The wing fuel tank vents and the fuel selector valve had no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. While testing the fuel tank quantity gauges for accuracy, the left wing fuel tank quantity gauge indication was stuck at 3 gallons when fuel was introduced, and it remained at 3 gallons as the fuel quantity was altered. Examination of the left fuel tank quantity gauge assembly found that it was corroded. The right wing fuel tank quantity gauge was accurate during testing. Examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded engine operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N420TD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N420TD), registered now, S/N C1-0532 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DE HAVILLAND DHC-1 - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-1) (registry code 2801702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Dehav ENG GIPSY MAJOR](https://openairdocs.org/engine/dehav-eng-gipsy-major) (registry code 20004, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C1-0532 - Year built: 1951 - Airframe hours: 8830 - Engines: Bristol Siddley Gypsey Major 10 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Foskett James J - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 3, 2024 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 57C, East Troy Municipal Airport, runway 36, 2,446 × 75 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: basicmed; last flight review September 9, 2023; seat: front; flight hours: 1,182 total, 25 in this make and model, 1,136 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KBUU, 7 nm away - METAR: KBUU 062200Z AUTO 32005KT 10SM OVC032 10/07 A3015 RMK AO2 T01000067 PWINO ## 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 20241106018009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241106018009A), Nov 6, 2024: Dehavilland DHC-1, East Troy, WI, Substantial damage. On November 6, 2024, the subject aircraft was involved in an accident which involved a forced landing approximately ¼ mile short of the turf runway at East… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195455. 7.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18024528&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Scan_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18025051&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Pilot%202-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� aircraft examination (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 353 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18138506&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Examinations-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18410460&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-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.