# NTSB CHI95LA064: North American F-51D, N51TK, Round Lake, IL, December 29, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 29, 1994, 14:56 local (19:56 UTC) - Place: Round Lake, IL - Coordinates: 42.33937, -88.109573 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3394&lon=-88.1096&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9818 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9818/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA064 ## Probable cause fuel starvation resulting from exhaustion of the fuel supply in the left tank. A factor related to the accident was insufficient altitude to switch fuel tanks and effect an engine restart. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fuel system - starvation - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - low (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS CLIMBING THROUGH 2,500 FEET WHEN 'THE ENGINE STOPPED ABRUPTLY.' HE WAS USING FUEL FROM THE LEFT TANK AND IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE RIGHT TANK POSITION. HE PLACED THE MIXTURE IN THE EMERGENCY RICH POSITION AND CHECKED THE BOOST PUMP AND MAGNETO SWITCHES ON. THE ENGINE DID NOT RECOVER AND HE CONDUCTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FOREST PRESERVE. INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION. THE LEFT FUEL TANK AND FUEL LINES WERE INTACT AND CONTAINED NO USABLE FUEL. THE ENGINE PERFORMED NORMALLY WHEN IT WAS OPERATED ON A TEST STAND. ## Factual narrative On December 29, 1994, at 1456 central standard time, a North American F-51D airplane, N51TK, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Round Lake, Illinois. The solo airline transport rated pilot sustained minor injuries. The personal flight originated in Wheeling, Illinois, at 1445 and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A flight plan was not filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. During a telephone interview on January 9, 1995, the pilot reported he was climbing through 2,500 feet when "the engine stopped abruptly." He was using fuel from the left tank and immediately switched the fuel selector to the right tank feed position. He placed the mixture in the emergency rich position and checked that the boost pump and magneto switches were on. The engine did not regain power and he conducted an emergency landing in a forest preserve. He said the engine had undergone recent carburetor work and he believed this had resulted in the loss of engine power. Mr. Tim McCarter of Amphib, Inc., reported, during a telephone interview, on January 9, 1995, that the airplane departed Kenosha, Wisconsin about 1305 with about 90 gallons of usable fuel. He said the airplane would burn about 86 gallons per hour during climb and 50 gallons per hour at a low power cruise. A controller at the Palwaukee Airport Air Traffic Control Tower in Wheeling, Illinois, reported that N51TK landed there at 1411 and departed at 1445. Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors who examined the wreckage reported no evidence of preimpact malfunction. The propeller, right wing, and left horizontal stabilizer were sheared from the airplane. The left wing and nose had tears in the skins and compression damage. The left fuel tank and fuel lines were intact and contained no usable fuel. The engine performed normally when it was operated on a test stand. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51TK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51TK), registered now, S/N 44-63350 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN F-51D - Registry model: [North American F-51D](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-f-51d) (registry code 6402309) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce V-1650-7](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-v-1650-7) (registry code 54558, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 44-63350 - Engines: Rolls-Royce V1650-9 1600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles Greenhill - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special) - Departed: PWK, WHEELING, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,900 total, 110 in this make and model, 3,800 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 8 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 19 °F ## 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 19941229043329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941229043329A), Dec 29, 1994: Namer F51D, Round Lake, IL, Substantial damage. Lost power on climb. Switched tanks. Landed in forestry area. No useable fuel on board. Packard engine thirsty. ## Other investigations on N51TK (2) 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 SEA07LA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA196), Jul 15, 2007: North American F-51D (N51TK), Camarillo, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of airplane. - [NTSB CHI89DET03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89DET03), Apr 11, 1989: North American F-51D (N51TK), Fort Wayne, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING THE CROSSWIND TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PREMATURE LIFT OFF AND THE CROSSWIND CONDITION. 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.