# NTSB ERA11CA018: Long EZ, N539AD, Leesburg, FL, October 12, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 12, 2010, 19:50 local (23:50 UTC)
- Place: Leesburg, FL
- Coordinates: 28.822778, -81.808609 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8228&lon=-81.8086&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern crosswind: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 77554
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77554/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77554
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA018

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Dunlap Allen J R LONG EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=056902D), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dunlap Allen J R LONG EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=056902D), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern crosswind: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Dunlap Allen J R LONG EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=056902D), [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: [Dunlap Allen J R LONG EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056902D), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Dunlap Allen J R LONG EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=056902D), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he made a go-around after his first approach due to the aircraft traffic in the area. In diverting his attention to monitoring the traffic, he forgot to switch the fuel tank selection. As the airplane turned onto the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern, the engine began to sputter and subsequently experienced a total loss of power. The pilot switched to the other fuel tank in an attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. With the airplane's altitude decreasing, he decided to ditch in a lake to avoid a housing area. A postaccident inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane incurred substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage; they found no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomalies. The pilot opined that the engine had a loss of power due to fuel starvation.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, he made a go-around after his first approach due to traffic in the area. He forgot to switch fuel tanks while dealing with the traffic situation and as the airplane turned crosswind, the engine “started to sputter and then it stopped.” The pilot switched fuel tanks and attempted to restart but was unsuccessful. He did not have enough altitude or time to get the engine restarted and decided to ditch in a lake to avoid a housing area. A post-accident inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane incurred substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage and that no mechanical anomalies existed before the accident. The pilot stated, “It was simply fuel starvation.”

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N539AD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N539AD), registered now, S/N 539, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LONG EZ
- Registry model: [Dunlap Allen J R LONG EZ](https://openairdocs.org/model/dunlap-allen-j-r-long-ez) (registry code 056902D) (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: 539
- Airframe hours: 33
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Allen Dunlap
- Registered owner: Allen Dunlap
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, August 22, 2010, 33 hours before
- Departed: LEE, Leesburg, FL
- Destination: Leesburg, FL
- Airport: LEE, Leesburg International Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 76; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 13, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 300 total, 33 in this make and model, 265 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: LEE, 1 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 20101012047159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101012047159A), Oct 12, 2010: Dunlap Alle LONG EZ, Leesburg, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot stated as he established his long final for for landing runway 13 at Leesburg when additional traffic announced there intentions to land on runway 13 as…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77554. 1.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 492 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338311&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record-Pilot Interview (item 2, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338004&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record-Pilot%20Interview-Master.PDF
- Memorandum of Record-FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338005&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record-FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338003&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 (courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 216 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338000&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20(courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 (courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338001&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20(courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 (courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 185 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338312&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20(courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.

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