# NTSB CEN25LA393: Floyd G Halderman JR RV-6, N851FH, Cambridge, MN, September 25, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 25, 2025, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Cambridge, MN - Coordinates: 45.565675, -93.2259 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5657&lon=-93.2259&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 12, 2026 - 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): 201720 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA393 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201720/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201720 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA393 ## Probable cause The pilot’s continued operation of the faulty fuel selector valve which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the degraded operation of the fuel selector valve and the pilot’s poor decision to operate the airplane without first addressing the maintenance issue. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Floyd G Halderman JR RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=05637SP), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/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: [Floyd G Halderman JR RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05637SP), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Floyd G Halderman JR RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=05637SP), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/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 final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Floyd G Halderman JR RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05637SP), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he and a group of other pilots had recently purchased the airplane. He noted that the airplane’s fuel selector was difficult to turn. A new selector valve was planned for installation but had not yet been installed. During the accident flight, when he was nearing his destination, the pilot switched to the fullest fuel tank. When the airplane was on final approach the engine lost all power, and the pilot executed a forced landing short of the intended runway. The airplane nosed over during the forced landing and sustained substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. After the accident, when the pilot was securing the airplane, he recognized that the selector valve was not fully open, and this had led to the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. The pilot noted in his accident report narrative that the valve was difficult to rotate and also difficult to determine if it was in a detent position, and that he should have grounded the airplane until the replacement selector valve was installed. No service documentation for the fuel selector valve was found during the investigation. Ensuring operation of the valve should be part of the condition inspection for the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N851FH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N851FH), registered now, S/N 25086, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLOYD G HALDERMAN JR RV-6 - Registry model: [Floyd G Halderman JR RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/floyd-g-halderman-jr-rv-6) (registry code 05637SP) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-E3D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-e3d) (registry code 42127, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 25086 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 350 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Anerv6a LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 15, 2025, 20 hours before - Departed: ANE, Blaine, MN - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: CBG, Cambridge Muni, runway 16/34, 4,001 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 19, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,400 total, 10 in this make and model, 2,400 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KCBG, 2 nm away - METAR: METAR KCBG 252035Z AUTO 22009KT 10SM CLR 27/15 A2988 RMK AO2 T02690149= ## 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 20250925017109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250925017109A), Sep 25, 2025: Floyd G Halderman Jr RV-6, Cambridge, MN, Substantial damage. On approach to the destination, the pilot elected to switch fuel tanks from right to left. Less than a quarter mile from the runway threshold, the engine quit.… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201720. 4.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19362000&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 5 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19760051&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation with FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19655036&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20FAA-Rel.pdf - E-mail correspondence with pilot (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 311 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19655000&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=pilot%20e-mail_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Piper cherokee service manual - fuel valve diagram (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 450 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19654471&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cherokee%20fuel%20valve-Rel.pdf - Maintenance record excerpts (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 747 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19655174&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maint%20records_Redacted-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.