# NTSB CHI01LA285: Waters Avid Bandit, N62PT, Northville, MI, August 18, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 18, 2001, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Northville, MI - Coordinates: 42.429882, -83.479316 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4299&lon=-83.4793&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 53091 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA285 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53091/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA285 ## Probable cause fuel starvation due to the pilot's improper fuel calculations. A factor was the concrete building. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fuel system - starvation (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane experienced a loss of engine power during cruise flight and was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The pilot reported, "... I noticed uneven fuel usage from tanks. Decision made to return to airport immediately, but engine quit en route." He attempted an engine re-start but was unsuccessful. He executed a forced landing to a racetrack. He reported the airplane collided with a concrete building. The airplane had no fuel in the right tank and 8 gallons of fuel in the left tank. No fuel leak was observed. The pilot reported that during the flight, he had the right wing fuel selector ON and the left wing fuel selector OFF. He forgot to select the left wing fuel selector to ON, and when the right wing fuel tank ran out of fuel, the engine quit. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On August 18, 2001, at 1115 eastern daylight time, an experimental Waters Avid Bandit, N62PT, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight departed the Mettetal-Canton Airport (1D2), Plymouth, Michigan, at 1030, on a local flight. The airplane was in cruise flight returning to 1D2 when it experienced a loss of engine power and a forced landing was made to a racetrack located about 5 miles from the airport. The airplane hit a concrete building during landing roll. The pilot and passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported, "... I noticed uneven fuel usage from tanks. Decision made to return to airport immediately, but engine quit en route." He attempted an engine re-start but was unsuccessful. He executed a forced landing to a racetrack. He reported the airplane collided with a cement wall. A Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Inspector examined the airplane and found no fuel in the right tank and 8 gallons of fuel in the left tank. No fuel leak was observed. He reported the pilot had informed him that during the flight, the pilot had the right wing fuel selector ON and the left wing fuel selector OFF. The pilot reported he forgot to select the left wing fuel selector to ON, and when the right wing fuel tank ran out of fuel, the engine quit. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62PT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62PT-2018-03-15), registration cancelled 2018-03-15, S/N 1509E, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Waters Avid Bandit - Registry model: [Waters Peter T AVID BANDIT](https://openairdocs.org/model/waters-peter-t-avid-bandit) (registry code 056044L) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1509E - Airframe hours: 315 - Engines: Rotax 912 UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Peter T. Waters - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 21, 2001, 5 hours before - Departed: 1D2, Plymoth, MI - Airport: 1D2, Mettetal-Canton Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 19, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 472 total, 314 in this make and model, 472 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC) - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: YIP, 11 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 20010818026479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010818026479A), Aug 18, 2001: Amtr AVIDBANDIT, Northville, MI, No damage. (-23) The acft tookoff with approx 14 gals of fuel (estimated 8 gals on the LH and 6 gals on the RH wing tanks). After flying for approx 25 min, the pilot… ## Other investigations on N62PT (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA14FA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA153), Mar 11, 2014: Waters Peter T Avid Bandit (N62PT), Washington, PA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed and angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of aircraft control in gusty and turbulent wind conditions. 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.