- Date
- June 14, 2008, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Newton Falls, OH
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N813DJFetherolf CH-701
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-Cleveland FSDO
- FAA report
- 20080614838879A
- Case key
- 68300
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 during the landing approach due to fuel starvation resulting from an obstructed fuel tank vent. Factors contributing to the accident were the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing, and the airplane's low altitude at the time of the power loss.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported he had been flying for approximately 15 minutes when he decided to land. The airplane was on downwind for the runway, abeam the threshold, when the engine "sputtered then quit." The pilot switched fuel tanks, and turned on the electric fuel boost pump; however, he was unsuccessful in restoring engine power. At that point, the airplane was outside of gliding distance to the runway, and the pilot made a forced landing to a wooded area short of the runway. A postaccident inspection revealed that the left fuel tank vent was obstructed. The obstruction appeared to be sealant used in the assembly of the tank. The pilot noted that the vent design will be changed to reduce the possibility of a blockage, and the preflight checklist will be revised to specifically verify that the vents are clear prior to flight.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported he had been flying for approximately 15 minutes when he decided to land. The airplane was established on downwind for runway 1 (3,500 feet by 30 feet, asphalt), abeam the threshold, when the engine "sputtered then quit." The pilot switched fuel tanks and turned on the electric fuel boost pump; however, he was unsuccessful in restoring engine power. At that point, the airplane was outside of gliding distance to the runway. The pilot subsequently executed a forced landing to a wooded area short of the runway. A post accident inspection revealed that the left fuel tank vent was obstructed. The obstruction appeared to be sealant used in the assembly of the tank. The pilot noted that the vent design will be changed to reduce the possibility of a blockage, and the preflight checklist will be revised to specifically verify that the vents are clear prior to flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N813DJ
- Reported as
- Fetherolf CH-701
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 7-3614
- Airframe hours
- 22.5
- Engine
- Subaru EA-81, 80 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · November 1, 2007
- Departed
- 41N · Newton Falls, OH
- Airport
- 41N · Braceville, runway 1, 3,000 × 30 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
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 1, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 202 total · 14 in this make and model · 124 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.97 inHg
- Observed at
- YNG, 14 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.