# NTSB DEN99LA082: Rich RV3-A, N4461V, Bountiful, UT, May 21, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 21, 1999, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Bountiful, UT - Coordinates: 40.880416, -111.820129 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8804&lon=-111.8201&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 23, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46380 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46380/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA082 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, and the subsequent fuel exhaustion during the flight. Factor was the airplane's inaccurate fuel gauge. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - incorrect (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot recently purchased the airplane, and had accumulated 6 hours of flight experience in the airplane by the time of the accident. The day before the accident, the pilot topped-off the airplane's 24 gallon fuel tank, and flew touch and go landings for 45 minutes. On the day of the accident, he departed Skypark Airport for Brigham City, where he performed two touch and go landings. He then flew to Ogden-Hinckley Municipal Airport where he did a full stop landing. After a 45 minute stop, the pilot continued his flight to Skypark. As he approached the airport, his engine stopped. He said that his fuel gauge 'showed over 1/2,' and an airborne engine restart was unsuccessful. He performed a forced landing, and encountered a ditch during the landing roll. The FAA inspector, that went to the scene and examined the airplane, reported that he found no fuel or the smell of fuel. The total engine run time since the last refueling was not determined. ## Factual narrative On May 21, 1999, approximately 1100 mountain daylight time, a Rich RV3-A homebuilt experimental airplane, N4461V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Bountiful, Utah. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was being operated by the pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight which originated approximately 15 minutes prior to the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot said that he had recently purchased the airplane, and had accumulated 6 hours of flight experience in the airplane by the time of the accident. The day before the accident, the pilot topped-off the airplane's 24 gallon fuel tank, and flew touch and go landings for 45 minutes. On the day of the accident, he departed Skypark Airport for Brigham City, where he performed two touch and go landings. He then flew to Ogden-Hinckley Municipal Airport where he did a full stop landing. After a 45 minute stop, the pilot continued his flight to Skypark. As he approached the airport, his engine stopped. He said that his fuel gauge "showed over 1/2," and an airborne engine restart was unsuccessful. He performed a forced landing, and encountered a ditch during the landing roll. The airplane's main landing gear separated from the airplane, and the airplane nosed over to the inverted position. Postaccident examination of the left wing revealed that the left main rear spar was bent. The FAA inspector, that went to the scene and examined the airplane, reported that he found no fuel or the smell of fuel. The total engine run time since the last refueling was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4461V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4461V), registered now, S/N 872 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rich RV3-A - Registry model: [Rich Beryl G RV3-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/rich-beryl-g-rv3-a) (registry code 05608V2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 872 - Airframe hours: 342 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John R. Mccall - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 16, 1998 - Departed: ODG, OGDEN, UT - Destination: BTF, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 2,400 total, 6 in this make and model, 47 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 30,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SLC, 5 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 19990521021579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990521021579A), May 21, 1999: Amtr RV3A, Bountiful, UT, Substantial damage. On may 21, 1999, approximately 1300 mountain daylight time, a rich RV3-A homebuilt experimental airplane, N4461V, was substantially damaged during a forced… 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.