# NTSB CHI89DEP03: Tesmer Glassair SH-2, N29HJ, Watertown, WI, April 30, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: April 30, 1989, 07:00 local (12:00 UTC)
- Place: Watertown, WI
- Coordinates: 43.189224, -88.719161 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1892&lon=-88.7192&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14205
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89DEP03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14205/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89DEP03

## Probable cause

LACK FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE (FUEL STARVATION) DUE TO AN UNDETERMINED FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, approach
  - fuel system - undetermined (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE NEW, HOME BUILT, ACFT WAS ON ITS MAIDEN FLT. AS THE OWNER WAS PERFORMING STALLS ABOUT 1/2 HR AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. POWER WAS RESTORED WHEN THE PLT TURNED ON THE ELEC BOOST PUMP & SELECTED THE HEADER TANK. ABOUT 2 MIN LATER, AS HE WAS APCHG THE ARPT TO LAND, THE ENG LOST POWER AGAIN & WOULD NOT RESTART. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED DRG AN EMERG LNDG. DRG AN EXAM OF THE FUEL SYS, AIR WAS FOUND IN THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE & NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE GASCOLATOR. THE FLOAT/NEEDLE VALVE WAS FOUND STUCK IN THE OPEN PSN & THE FLOAT SETTING WAS ABOUT 1/2 INCH OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. HOWEVER, THE OPEN VALVE SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED UNRESTRICTED FUEL FLOW RATHER THAN FUEL STARVATION. THE BUILDER HAD MODIFIED THE FUEL SYS BY INSTALLING AN EXTRA FUEL FILTER. THE EXTRA FUEL FILTER WAS INSTALLED IN THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE & WAS IN ADDITION TO THE SCREENS IN THE GASCOLATOR & THE CARBURETOR INLET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N29HJ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: TESMER GLASSAIR SH-2
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 134
- Airframe hours: 2
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B3B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Tesmer, James J.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, April 6, 1989, 2 hours before
- Departed: PVT, WATERLOO, WI
- Destination: RYV
- Airport: RYN, Watertown Muni, runway 23, 3,600 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 354 total, 3 in this make and model, 300 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSN, 26 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 19890430010339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890430010339A), Apr 30, 1989: Amtr GLASAIR, Watertown, WI, Substantial damage. Fuel starvation due to incorrect carburetor float setting. Skidded sideways on landing.

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.

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