# NTSB ERA10CA353: Lawwill Ted Zodiac 601XL, N601LP, Waddy, KY, June 29, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 29, 2010, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Waddy, KY - Coordinates: 38.099166, -85.023056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0992&lon=-85.0231&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76577 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA353 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76577/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76577 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA353 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Lawwill Ted ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05620VO), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Lawwill Ted ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05620VO), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/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: [Lawwill Ted ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05620VO), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Lawwill Ted ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05620VO), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Lawwill Ted ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05620VO), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The certificated flight instructor (CFI) stated that he was the pilot-in-command and safety pilot because the other pilot had not flown in about eight months. Preflight inspection of the airplane revealed each fuel tank was half full, which was adequate for the planned one hour flight plus a reserve. After takeoff, the flight proceeded to another airport, where two uneventful touch-and-go practice takeoff and landings were performed. The pilots then elected to return to the original departure airstrip flying about 800 feet above ground level. During the return flight, the CFI noticed that the single fuel gauge, which only indicated fuel quantity from the selected tank, indicated less than one quarter tank of fuel remaining in the left tank. He then selected the right tank to supply the engine. The engine operated normally for less than a minute before beginning to sputter. The CFI immediately switched back to the left fuel tank, turned on the electric fuel pump, and applied carburetor heat. The engine regained power and the airplane began to climb, but the engine subsequently experienced a total loss of power. During the descent, the CFI switched to the right tank again. The engine did not regain power and the performed a forced landing to a grassy hill. During landing, the nose gear sheared and one wing incurred substantial damage. At the time of the airplane's wreckage recovery, no fuel was noted in the left tank and about eight gallons of fuel was drained from the right fuel tank; there was no breach of fuel lines or fuel tanks. The fuel strainer contained fuel; however, there was no fuel at the fuel selector valve located in the cockpit or in fuel lines from the fuel strainer to the engine. The CFI opined that the engine lost power due to the left tank becoming exhausted of fuel, which introduced air into the fuel supply system. A subsequent ground test indicated that with the electric pump on, the supply system should have been purged of air in about three seconds. ## Factual narrative The certificated flight instructor (CFI) stated that he was the pilot-in-command and safety pilot because the other pilot had not flown since November 2009. Preflight inspection of the airplane revealed each fuel tank was half full, which was adequate for the planned 1 hour flight plus reserves. After takeoff, the flight proceeded to another airport, where two uneventful touch-and-go landings were performed. The pilots then elected to return to the original departure airstrip flying about 800 feet above ground level. During the return flight, the CFI noticed that the single fuel gauge, which only indicated fuel quantity from the selected tank, indicated less than one quarter tank of fuel remaining in the left tank. He then selected the fuel from the right tank; however, the engine ran normally for "less than a minute" before beginning to “sputter.” The CFI immediately switched back to the left fuel tank, turned on the electric fuel pump, and applied carburetor heat. The engine regained power and the airplane began to climb, but the engine then lost all power. During the descent, the CFI switched to the right tank again; however, the engine did not regain power, and he performed a forced landing to a grassy hill where the nose gear sheared and one wing incurred substantial damage. During the recovery of the airplane, no fuel was noted in the left tank, about 8 gallons of fuel were drained from the right fuel tank, and there was no breach of fuel lines or fuel tanks. The fuel strainer contained fuel; however, there was no fuel at the fuel selector valve located in the cockpit or in fuel lines from the fuel strainer to the engine. When asked why he thought the engine failed, the CFI stated that he thought he ran the left tank dry and introduced air into the fuel supply system. A subsequent ground test indicated that with the electric pump on, the supply system should have been purged of air in about 3 seconds. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N601LP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N601LP), registered now, S/N 6-5230 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LAWWILL TED ZODIAC 601XL - Registry model: [Lawwill Ted ZODIAC 601XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/lawwill-ted-zodiac-601xl) (registry code 05620VO) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-235-L2C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-235-l2c) (registry code 42035, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6-5230 - Airframe hours: 161 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 118 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 8, 2010 - Departed: FFT, Frankfort, KY - Destination: Waddy, KY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 4, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 799 total, 1 in this make and model, 295 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 76; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; last flight review November 9, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 5 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: FFT ## 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 20100629036709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100629036709A), Jun 29, 2010: Lawwill Ted ZODIAC 601X, Waddy, KY, Substantial damage. According to the instructor pilot, aircraft N601LP departed 3KY9 Miles Field with both fuel tanks 1/2 full. Instructor was giving a proficiency ride. After… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76577. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 801 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333761&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334854&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports: Records of Conversation With the Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334480&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%3A%20Records%20of%20Conversation%20With%20the%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports: Records of Conversation With the Airplane's Repairman (item 4, .PDF, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334481&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%3A%20Records%20of%20Conversation%20With%20the%20Airplane%27s%20Repairman-Redacted.PDF 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.