# NTSB DEN05LA121: Sheel Vans RV-8, N5754S, Fort Collins, CO, August 7, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 2005, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Fort Collins, CO - Coordinates: 40.453334, -105.01889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4533&lon=-105.0189&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 62150 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05LA121 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62150/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA121 ## Probable cause the pilot inadvertently stalling the airplane and descending into the ground. Contributing factors were the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and his failure to refuel the airplane, resulting in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - open field ## Analysis The airplane departed runway 33. During the initial climb out, the airplane made a steep roll to the left, pitched down, descended and impacted terrain. A witness said he saw the airplane "in a high left bank like it was trying to land on runway 15. Suddenly, the plane made an abrupt (steep) descent (approximately 45 degrees) nose down. About 50 feet above the ground, it seemed the pilot tried to level off. The plane impacted the ground at a lower angle of attack (I would say 15-20 degrees). An FAA inspector, who was at the airport but did not witness the accident, immediately responded to the accident site. He said he found the fuel selector valve on the left tank and the left fuel tank was empty. The right fuel tank contained approximately "one inch" of fuel. One blade of the propeller was bent under the engine cowling, and the other was slightly damaged. The engine had been extensively modified. Disassembly revealed continuity and compression of all cylinders. The left magneto produced spark when turned. In place of a right magneto, the airplane was equipped with an automotive electronic ignition. All eight spark plugs were of the automotive-type. There was no fuel in the engine-driven fuel pump, electrically-driven fuel pump, or fuel injectors. The engine data recorder was sent to the manufacturer. Data downloaded was found to be corrupt and meaningless. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 2005, approximately 0900 mountain daylight time, a Sheel Vans RV-8, N5754S, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a descent at the Fort Collins/Loveland Municipal Airport (FNL), Fort Collins, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was seriously injured and a passenger was fatally injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The passenger's wife dropped her husband off at the airport shortly before 0900 for a flight with her father, the pilot. Witnesses reported the airplane departed runway 33. During the initial climb out, the airplane was seen to make a steep bank to the left, pitch down, and descend into the terrain. According to a witness, "I saw the light plane in a high left bank like it was trying to land on runway 15. Suddenly, the plane made an abrupt (steep) descent (approximately 45 degrees) nose down. About 50 feet above the ground, it seemed the pilot tried to level off. The plane impacted the ground at a lower angle of attack (I would say 15-20 degrees)." An FAA inspector, who was at the airport but did not witness the accident, immediately responded to the accident site. He said he found the fuel selector valve on the left tank and the left fuel tank was empty. The right fuel tank contained approximately "one inch" of fuel. One blade of the propeller was bent under the engine cowling, and the other was slightly damaged. The engine, a Lycoming O-360-A1A (s/n L-38634-36A), rated at 180 horsepower, had been extensively modified. On November 17, 2005, it was disassembled and examined at Beegles Aircraft Service, Greeley, Colorado. Engine continuity was confirmed. All cylinders had compression. The left magneto produced spark when turned. In place of a right magneto, the airplane was equipped with an automotive electronic ignition system. All eight spark plugs were of the automotive-type. There was no fuel in the engine-driven fuel pump, electrically-driven fuel pump, or fuel injectors. The engine data recorder was sent to the manufacturer. Data downloaded was found to be corrupt and meaningless. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5754S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5754S-2007-05-18), registration cancelled 2007-05-18, S/N 81259, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Sheel Vans RV-8 - Registry model: [Sheel William F VANS RV-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/sheel-william-f-vans-rv-8) (registry code 05617KS) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 81259 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: FNL, Fort Collins, CO - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: FNL, Fort Collins-Loveland Municipa ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2005; seat: front; flight hours: 660 total, 35 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: FNL ## 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 20050807019099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050807019099A), Aug 7, 2005: Amtr VANSRV8, Fort Collins, CO, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. (-23) The private rated pilot and one passenger departed Loveland Fort Collins airport, runway 33, at approximately 9:05 am in a homebuilt aircraft constructed… 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.