# NTSB ERA13LA159: 781569 FX 210, N524VT, Punta Gorda, FL, March 9, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 9, 2013, 11:50 local (16:50 UTC)
- Place: Punta Gorda, FL
- Coordinates: 26.919721, -81.990554 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.9197&lon=-81.9906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 13, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 86389
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA159
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86389/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86389
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA159

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined from the available evidence.

## Findings

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

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [781569 FX 210, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05624SD), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/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 final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [781569 FX 210, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05624SD), [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: [781569 FX 210, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05624SD), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [781569 FX 210, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05624SD), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he performed a preflight inspection of the experimental amateur-built airplane and noted that about 25 gallons of fuel remained in both of the airplane's fuel tanks. He subsequently departed for a local sightseeing flight, and, upon returning to the airport traffic pattern, the engine lost all power while the airplane was turning from the base to the final leg of the approach to the runway. The pilot was unable to glide the airplane to the runway, so he landed the airplane in a grass area short of the runway. The airplane's nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined from the available evidence.

## Factual narrative

On March 9, 2013, about 1150 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built FX 210, N524VT, was substantially damaged during a forced landing while on approach to Punta Gorda Airport (PGD), Punta Gorda, Florida. The airline transport pilot/owner/builder and two passengers incurred minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for a local flight. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.The pilot performed an uneventful preflight inspection of the airplane and noted a total fuel quantity of 25 gallons (of a possible 98 gallons) remained in both of the airplane's fuel tanks. He subsequently departed on a brief local sightseeing flight and upon returning to the airport, entered the traffic pattern for landing on runway 4. While turning from the base to the final leg of the traffic pattern, the engine suddenly lost all power. The pilot ensured that all of the fuel valves remained open and that the electric fuel boost pump was still activated. He then attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. Due to the airplane's low altitude at the time of the engine power loss, the pilot was unable to glide the airplane to the runway, and performed a landing in the grass area short of the runway threshold. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. A cursory examination of the airplane was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, and found that the composite fuselage had been substantially damaged during the accident sequence. A detailed examination of the wreckage was conducted after the airplane was recovered from the accident site by an aircraft composite repair facility, which had experience with the accident airplane make/model. During the examination, it was found that the airplane's fuel tanks had been preassembled by the kit manufacturer and provided to the builder without swing gate baffles installed, which would have prevented fuel from sloshing within the tank. Additionally, the airplane was not equipped with a header fuel tank, as specified by its original design. The airplane's engine was not further examined. The experimental amateur-built airplane was certificated in April 2008, and was certified by the pilot to have completed phase I flight testing on January 4, 2012, after 25 total flight hours. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A engine. The airplane's most recent condition inspection was completed on March 8, 2013, and at the time of the inspection the airplane had accumulated 26.7 total flight hours. The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with numerous ratings including airplane single engine land. He reported about 15,000 total hours of flight experience, 27 hours of which were in the accident airplane make and model.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N524VT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N524VT-2018-03-13), registration cancelled 2018-03-13, S/N FW06060021, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: 781569 INC FX 210
- Registry model: [781569 FX 210](https://openairdocs.org/model/781569-fx-210) (registry code 05624SD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tio-540-ae2a) (registry code 41999, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: FW06060021
- Year built: 2006
- Airframe hours: 27
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-AE2A 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: 781569 Inc
- Registered owner: 781569 Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 8, 2013, 1 hours before
- Departed: PGD, Punta Gorda, FL
- Destination: PGD, Punta Gorda, FL
- Airport: PGD, Punta Gorda Airport, runway 04, 7,193 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 5, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 15,000 total, 27 in this make and model, 11,300 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observed at: PGD, 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 20130309004799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130309004799A), Mar 9, 2013: 781569 Inc FX 210, Punta Gorda, FL, Destroyed. On March 3, 2013, a experimental kit built aircraft, N524VT, FX210, registered to 891569 inc., crashed short of the runway at Charlotte County Airport (pgd)…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 6, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86389. 5.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 850 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417348&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417349&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record – Wreckage Examination Summary (item 3, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417350&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Wreckage%20Examination%20Summary-Master.PDF
- Airplane Specifications (item 4, .PDF, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417354&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Specifications-Master.PDF
- Airworthiness Information (item 5, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417355&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airworthiness%20Information-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 – View of Main Wreckage From Right (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 691 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417352&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20Main%20Wreckage%20From%20Right%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – View of Damage to Fuselage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 719 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417353&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20Damage%20to%20Fuselage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-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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