- Date
- September 16, 2005, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Emerson, NE
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8225FBeech F33A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 31, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20050916022739A
- Case key
- 62644
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power due to the pilot's failure to verify the fuel selector position which resulted in fuel starvation. Factors were the low altitude, the crops and the fence.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a complete loss of engine power. The pilot reported that while in flight at 1,800 feet above ground level, he experienced a loss of power about 10 seconds after switching fuel tanks. He also reported a loss of fuel pressure. An engine run subsequent to the accident confirmed engine operation. During the engine run, it was found that failure to place the fuel selector valve within the detent would result in power loss due to fuel starvation. The pilot reported that he was over rolling terrain with crops and during the landing the airplane contacted corn crops and a barbed wire fence.
Factual narrative
On September 16, 2005, about 1200 central daylight time, a Beech F33A, N8225F, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a complete loss of engine power near Emerson, Nebraska. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured. The flight originated from the Karl Stefan Memorial Airport, Norfolk, Nebraska, about 1145, and was bound for the Sioux Gateway Airport/Col. Bud Day Field, Sioux City, Iowa.
In a written statement, the pilot stated that he began the flight with full fuel. He stated that while in flight at 1,800 feet above ground level, he switched fuel tanks and about 10 seconds later the engine quit. He stated that there was a loss of fuel flow. He stated that his attempts to restart the engine, including switching tanks again were of no avail and he executed a forced landing to a field. He stated that the terrain consisted of rolling hills and during the landing the airplane contacted corn crops and a barbed wire fence.
A postaccident engine run failed to reveal any anomalies with regard to the engine or fuel system. During the engine run it was noted that failure to accurately position the fuel selector valve within the detent resulted in fuel starvation. Re-positioning the fuel selector valve within the detent for any fuel tank would allow the engine to operate normally.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8225F
- Reported as
- Beech F33A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- CE-1597
- Engine
- Continental IO-520, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Charles Robert Adams
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- OFK · Norfolk, NE
- Destination
- SUX · Sioux City, IA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 3,200 total · 2,400 in this make and model · 3,200 as pilot in command · 90 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.