# NTSB CHI92DEX02: Townsend-Snyder Rultan Varieze, N40TS, Indianapolis, IN, July 9, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 9, 1992, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Indianapolis, IN
- Location: 39.8565° N, 85.8904° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from INDIANAPOLIS RGNL (MQJ), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8565&lon=-85.8904&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15254
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI92DEX02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15254/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92DEX02

## Probable cause

FUEL STARVATION DUE TO IMPROPER FUEL TANK SELECTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor)

## Analysis

PILOT SELECTED AUXILIARY TANK FOR STARTING, AND DID NOT SELECT MAIN TANKS AFTER START.  ENGINE QUIT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH AT 350 FEET.  PILOT SWITCHED TANKS BUT DID NOT GET ENGINE RESTARTED.  FORCED LANDING WAS MADE SHORT OF RUNWAY IN TALL CORN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N40TS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40TS-1996-09-14), registration cancelled 1996-09-14, S/N VE470TS (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TOWNSEND-SNYDER RULTAN VARIEZE (RULTAN VAR)
- Registry model: [Townsend-Synder RULTAN VARIEZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/townsend-synder-rultan-varieze) (registry code 05609VM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: VE470TS
- Airframe hours: 382
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C 116 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Alan R. Townsend
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 26, 1991, 69 hours before
- Departed: MQJ
- Destination: MQJ
- Airport: MQJ, Mount Comfort, runway 25, 5,500 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 282 total, 110 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: IND, 20 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 19920709024809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920709024809A), Jul 9, 1992: Amtrru VARIEZE, Indianapolis, IN, Substantial damage. Engine quit on approach. Landed short in tall corn. Left fuel selector on header tank. Ran dry. Failed select mains

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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