# NTSB CHI08CA199: Eagle Eagle DW-1, N8814L, Bryan, OH, July 18, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 18, 2008, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Bryan, OH - Coordinates: 41.467224, -84.506385 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4672&lon=-84.5064&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 68807 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA199 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68807/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA199 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's improper fuel calculations. A contributing factor was the inaccurate fuel gauge. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel indication system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840/cases.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=3230203), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the agricultural spray airplane reported that the airplane's fuel gauge was stuck and it provided an inaccurate indication of the fuel remaining. He thought there was about 30 minutes of fuel remaining, but the engine lost power about 3 miles from the grass airstrip where he intended to land. He reported that the airplane experienced fuel exhaustion, and he executed a forced landing to a field. The airplane sustained substantial damage when it nosed over in a field. The inspection of the airplane in the field revealed no fuel in the fuel tank. No fuel was found in the hose from the electric fuel pump to the engine driven fuel pump. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the agricultural spray airplane reported that the airplane's fuel gauge was stuck and it provided an inaccurate indication of the fuel remaining. He thought there was about 30 minutes of fuel remaining, but the engine quit about 3 miles from the grass airstrip where he intended to land. He reported that the airplane experienced fuel exhaustion, and he executed a forced landing to a field. The airplane sustained substantial damage when it nosed over in a field. The inspection of the airplane in the field revealed no fuel in the fuel tank. No fuel was found in the hose from the electric fuel pump to the engine driven fuel pump. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8814L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8814L-2017-10-06), registration cancelled 2017-10-06, S/N DW-1-0087-82, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Eagle Aircraft Co. Eagle DW-1 - Registry model: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/eagle-eagle-dw-1) (registry code 3230203) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: DW-1-0087-82 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Hummel Aviation - Registered owner: Lynn A. Flaten - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Bryan, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; flight hours: 15,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## Other investigations on N8814L (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 CHI91DTK05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91DTK05), Sep 10, 1991: Eagle DW1 (N8814L), Hurley, SD, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN A VISUAL LOOKOUT. 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.