# NTSB ERA13LA094: Wragg George Skybolt, N328GW, Sarasota, FL, December 19, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 19, 2012, 14:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Sarasota, FL - Coordinates: 27.309722, -82.585281 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.3097&lon=-82.5853&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85850 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85850/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85850 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA094 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and failure to monitor the fuel quantity during flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Wragg George SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05614TS), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Wragg George SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=05614TS), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Wragg George SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05614TS), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Wragg George SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05614TS), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Wragg George SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05614TS), [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 exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Wragg George SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05614TS), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Wragg George SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05614TS), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Wragg George SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05614TS), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Wragg George SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=05614TS), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis About 1 month before the accident flight, the pilot added about 17 gallons of fuel to the airplane's bottom fuel tank. About 25 minutes into the accident flight, the engine experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot ditched the airplane in the Gulf of Mexico, and it sank. A postaccident examination of the wreckage after recovery revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The examination also revealed that the fuel tank contained 4 gallons of seawater and no fuel and that the fuel system had only trace amounts of fuel at the gascolator. According to the pilot and local authorities, no evidence of fuel leakage was found in the water. According to fuel records and the pilot's statement, it is likely that the airplane had a total of about 23 gallons of fuel on board at the last refueling; however, 6 gallons of the fuel were in the top tank and used during taxi and run-up operations. Therefore, considering the airplane's lowest fuel consumption rate of about 7.2 gallons per hour, the airplane would have been able to operate for 3.2 total hours. At the time of the accident, it had flown a total of 3.3 flight hours. Therefore, the pilot began the flight with an insufficient amount of fuel and did not monitor its quantity during the flight. ## Factual narrative On December 19, 2012, about 1420 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Skybolt, N328GW, was substantially damaged following a forced landing into the Gulf of Mexico near Sarasota, Florida. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The local flight originated at Venice Municipal Airport (VNC), Venice, Florida, about 1355. According to the pilot, he performed a preflight inspection, departed the airport, and flew north over the Gulf of Mexico. He flew the airplane for about thirty minutes and had just turned around in order to fly back to VNC when the engine began to surge. He unsuccessfully attempted to restore the engine to full power and turned the airplane toward the beach in order to perform a forced landing. The engine experienced a total loss of power; the airplane descended, impacted the water, and subsequently sank just off shore. The pilot egressed and swam to shore. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The inspector confirmed substantial damage to the right lower wing spar, the left upper wing spar, and all lower wing leading edges exhibited impact damage. In addition, there was no oil or fuel spill reported by the pilot, the life guards, nor local law enforcement. The wreckage was recovered to a storage facility where a subsequent examination of the engine and airframe was performed. All engine cowlings and the upper spark plugs were removed. Compression was confirmed on all cylinders. The fuel system was examined from the fuselage tank through the selector valve to the engine, which was selected to the fuselage tank. No blockage was noted throughout the fuel system and a small amount of fuel was present in the gascolator bowl. About 4 gallons of fluid was drained from the fuselage tank into a clean bucket. The fluid was similar in color and smell as sea water and there was no evidence of any fuel. According to the pilot, the most recent refueling was accomplished in late November and there had been three previous flights totaling 2.9 hours of flight time in addition to the accident flight since that refueling. A fuel receipt dated November 24, 2012 indicated that the pilot had purchased 17 gallons of 100 LL aviation fuel. The pilot stated to the FAA inspector that the top tank was used for taxi and run up operations and contained approximately 6 gallons of fuel at the last refueling. The bottom, or fuselage, tank was utilized exclusively in flight. During a phone interview with an NTSB investigator, the pilot reported that the engine was "steady at 2400 [rpm] prior to the engine sputtering." According to excerpts from the Textron Lycoming "Operator's Manual" for the IO-360 series engine, at 2400 rpm, the fuel consumption, depending on the mixture setting would be between43 and 82 pounds per hour. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N328GW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N328GW-2014-12-18), registration cancelled 2014-12-18, S/N 57, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WRAGG GEORGE SKYBOLT - Registry model: [Wragg George SKYBOLT](https://openairdocs.org/model/wragg-george-skybolt) (registry code 05614TS) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 57 - Airframe hours: 183 - Engines: LYCOMING IO 360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Schurgers Frank - Registered owner: Schurgers Frank - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 16, 2012 - Departed: VNC, Venice, FL - Destination: VNC, Venice, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2011; seat: rear; flight hours: 510 total, 150 in this make and model, 510 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: SRQ ## 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 20121219027109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121219027109A), Dec 19, 2012: Wragg George SKYBOLT, Sarasota, FL, Substantial damage. I inspected the aircraft and recorded the damage via photographs. It appears that the outer panel of the right lower wing has main spar damage and the inner… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85850. 6.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384566&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 399 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384567&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Interview Summary (item 3, .PDF, 366 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384568&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 4, .PDF, 728 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384569&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Sarasota Weather (item 5, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384102&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Sarasota%20Weather-Master.PDF - Airplane Flight Times (item 6, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384570&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Flight%20Times-Master.PDF - Most Recent Fuel Receipt (item 7, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384571&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Most%20Recent%20Fuel%20Receipt-Redacted.PDF - Operators Manual - Engine [Excerpts] (item 8, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389413&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Operators%20Manual%20-%20Engine%20%5BExcerpts%5D-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Front view of airplane after removed from water (Courtesy of FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 697 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384573&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Front%20view%20of%20airplane%20after%20removed%20from%20water%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. --- 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.