# NTSB ERA09LA114: Johnson Barron T Lancair 360, N360AS, Owensboro, KY, December 29, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 29, 2008, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Owensboro, KY - Coordinates: 37.660556, -87.256942 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6606&lon=-87.2569&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73165 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73165/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA114 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the fuel selector valve cotter pin and the inoperative main (center) fuel tank gauge. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Johnson Barron T LANCAIR 360 SFB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=05606JX), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel quantity indicator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Johnson Barron T LANCAIR 360 SFB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841/cases.md?model=05606JX), [All aircraft, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Johnson Barron T LANCAIR 360 SFB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=05606JX), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Johnson Barron T LANCAIR 360 SFB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05606JX), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Johnson Barron T LANCAIR 360 SFB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05606JX), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Johnson Barron T LANCAIR 360 SFB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05606JX), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the first 20 minutes of flight, the fuel selector was set to the main (center) tank. The pilot then switched the selector to the left wing tank, and then to the right tank during the flight. Approximately 20 minutes after switching back to the left tank, the engine lost power. While performing the emergency checklist the fuel selector was found to move freely with little resistance. In a statement written to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot stated that he knew the main tank fuel gauge was not working and that if it were operational it would have alerted him to the fuel selector valve control failure. Examination of the airplane revealed that the center fuel tank had a capacity of 10 gallons of fuel and it was not breached. This tank was found empty of fuel. Further inspection of the fuel selector valve and handle revealed that a cotter pin used to secure the handle to the shaft which turns the valve was sheared. This resulted in movement of the fuel selector handle not changing the position of the valve and remaining on the main fuel tank position. ## Factual narrative On December 29, 2008, about 1300 central standard time, an amateur built Lancair 360 SFB, N360AS, was substantially damaged and the certificated private pilot/owner, the sole occupant, was not injured during a forced landing near Owensboro, Kentucky. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot stated that when he departed the Riverside Airport (RVS), Tulsa, Oklahoma; the main (center), left and right wing fuel tanks were full. For the first 20 minutes of the flight, the pilot had the fuel selector positioned on the main tank. He then selected the left fuel tank which he continued to use until the fuel gauge for that tank indicated that 5 gallons had been used. He then selected the right fuel tank until the fuel gauge indicated that he had used 10 gallons from that tank. He switched back to the left tank and approximately 20 minutes later the engine stopped. While he performed the emergency checklist he noted that the fuel selector moved freely with little resistance. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful, and the pilot made a forced landing to a field. In a statement written to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot wrote that he knew the fuel gauge was not working, and if it were operational, it would have alerted him to the fuel selector failure. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that there was an undetermined amount of fuel in the left and right fuel tanks. Examination of the main fuel tank revealed that it was empty of fuel and not breached. Further inspection of the fuel selector valve and handle revealed that a cotter pin used to secure the handle to the shaft which turns the valve was sheared. This resulted in movement of the fuel selector handle not changing the position of the valve. The fuel selector valve was tested by attempting to flow fuel from the main tank to the engine. A measured amount of fuel was added to the main tank, and the boost pump was turned on. The added fuel in the main tank flowed to the engine freely. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N360AS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N360AS-2013-11-06), registration cancelled 2013-11-06, S/N 977-320-817-SFB, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JOHNSON BARRON T LANCAIR 360 - Registry model: [Johnson Barron T LANCAIR 360 SFB](https://openairdocs.org/model/johnson-barron-t-lancair-360-sfb) (registry code 05606JX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 977-320-817-SFB - Airframe hours: 330 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-360-F1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Charles M. Sublett - Registered owner: Inhofe James M - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2008, 330 hours before - Departed: RVS, Tulsa, OK - Destination: OWB, Owensboro, OK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private, military; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 21, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 3,250 total, 57 in this make and model, 3,120 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: OWB ## 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 20081229853579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081229853579A), Dec 29, 2008: Johnso LANCAIR360SF, Owensboro, KY, Substantial damage. N360AS, piloted by [privacy data omitted] departed riverside airport (krvs) in tulsa, ok at approximately 1050 CST on December 29, 2008. [privacy data omitted]… 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.