- Date
- April 15, 2007, 18:40 local (23:40 UTC)
- Place
- Buffalo, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N899PPavliga Hatz CB-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 27, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration, Minneapolis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20070415826499A
- Case key
- 65748
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 carburetor fuel flow valve becoming stuck in the closed position, which resulted in fuel starvation.
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 impacted terrain during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power. The pilot reported that during the preflight inspection he visually inspected the fuel tank and no fuel contamination was detected from a gascolator fuel sample. The pilot performed three landings, but while on the downwind leg for the fourth landing "the engine abruptly stopped." Best glide speed was established and the airplane was maneuvered toward the runway for landing. The pilot reported that he "confirmed that carb heat was off and mixture full, rocked the wings and switched mags off and then on, in an attempt to restart the engine." The airplane "just cleared" the perimeter fence and touched down short of the runway in a ditch. The right main gear subsequently separated and the airplane rolled inverted. An on-scene inspection of the airplane indicated that there was sufficient fuel available in the fuel tank and a gascolator fuel sample was free of water and particulate contamination. Examination of the carburetor revealed that the carburetor fuel flow valve would stick in the closed position.
Factual narrative
The airplane impacted terrain during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power. The pilot reported that during the preflight inspection he visually inspected the fuel tank and no fuel contamination was detected from a gascolator fuel sample. The pilot performed three landings, but while on the downwind leg for the fourth landing "the engine abruptly stopped." Best glide speed was established and the airplane was maneuvered toward the runway for landing. The pilot reported that he "confirmed that carb heat was off and mixture full, rocked the wings and switched mags off and then on, in an attempt to restart the engine." The airplane "just cleared" the perimeter fence and touched down short of the runway in a ditch. The right main gear subsequently separated and the airplane rolled inverted. An on-scene inspection of the airplane indicated that there was sufficient fuel available in the fuel tank and a gascolator fuel sample was free of water and particulate contamination. Examination of the carburetor revealed that the carburetor fuel flow valve would stick in the closed position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N899P
- Reported as
- Pavliga Hatz CB-1
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 313
- Airframe hours
- 668
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-C1, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · November 1, 2006
- Departed
- CFE · Buffalo, MN
- Destination
- CFE
- Airport
- CFE · Buffalo Municipal Airport, runway 35, 2,600 × 60 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 1, 2007
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 716 total · 140 in this make and model · 660 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- CFE
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.