# NTSB ERA14CA210: Jerome A Baak CH 601XL, N121JN, Sumter, SC, April 27, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 27, 2014, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Sumter, SC - Coordinates: 33.986946, -80.371109 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9869&lon=-80.3711&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 18, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89124 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA210 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89124/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89124 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA210 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the fuel exhaustion was the pilot's failure during the building process to properly determine the unusable quantity of fuel. ## 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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [Jerome A Baak CH 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05631LE), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Jerome A Baak CH 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05631LE), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel storage](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Jerome A Baak CH 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810/cases.md?model=05631LE), [All aircraft, 60 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810/cases.md) - [Maintenance: installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Jerome A Baak CH 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md?model=05631LE), [All aircraft, 371 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Jerome A Baak CH 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=05631LE), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Jerome A Baak CH 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05631LE), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Jerome A Baak CH 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05631LE), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Jerome A Baak CH 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05631LE), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that during the building process, he determined the unusable fuel amount in the fuel tanks with them uninstalled in the wings, placed on saw horses in a level attitude, but did not take into account wing dihedral, wing incidence, or pitch attitude. With respect to the accident flight he departed with what he thought was an adequate supply of fuel. When the flight was 3 to 4 miles from his destination with the fuel selector positioned to the right tank, the engine quit due to fuel starvation. He repositioned the fuel selector to the left tank which restored engine power and continued towards the destination airport. About 1 minute later the engine quit again; the fuel gauges at that time indicated 1/8 capacity in each tank. He established best glide airspeed and after realizing he was unable to land at the destination airport, he executed a forced landing in a marsh short of the runway. After touchdown the airplane nosed over and although the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) had activated, the wreckage wasn't spotted until an airplane that was landing flew over at 1645. During rescue of the pilot the right wing was cut off but no fuel leakage was reported. Following recovery of the airplane, the left fuel tank which was not breached did not contain any fuel. Additionally, only a teaspoon of fuel was found in the fuel strainer and the carburetor bowl was dry. Advisory Circular (AC) 90-89A, titled, "Amateur-Built Aircraft and Ultralight Flight Test Handbook" dated May 24, 1995, provides guidance in part for determining unusable fuel amount, and the procedures call for placing the airplane at an angle 5 degrees above the highest anticipated climb angle and to disconnect the fuel line to the carburetor. When the fuel flow stops, the amount remaining in the fuel tank is considered as unusable fuel. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that during the building process, he determined the unusable fuel amount in the fuel tanks with them uninstalled in the wings, placed on saw horses in a level attitude, but did not take into account wing dihedral, wing incidence, or pitch attitude. With respect to the accident flight he departed with what he thought was an adequate supply of fuel. When the flight was 3 to 4 miles from his destination with the fuel selector positioned to the right tank, the engine quit due to fuel starvation. He repositioned the fuel selector to the left tank which restored engine power and continued towards the destination airport. About 1 minute later the engine quit again; the fuel gauges at that time indicated 1/8 capacity in each tank. He established best glide airspeed and after realizing he was unable to land at the destination airport, he executed a forced landing in a marsh short of the runway. After touchdown the airplane nosed over and although the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) had activated, the wreckage wasn't spotted until an airplane that was landing flew over at 1645. During rescue of the pilot the right wing was cut off but no fuel leakage was reported. Following recovery of the airplane, the left fuel tank which was not breached did not contain any fuel. Additionally, only a teaspoon of fuel was found in the fuel strainer and the carburetor bowl was dry.Advisory Circular (AC) 90-89A, titled, "Amateur-Built Aircraft and Ultralight Flight Test Handbook" dated May 24, 1995, provides guidance in part for determining unusable fuel amount, and the procedures call for placing the airplane at an angle 5 degrees above the highest anticipated climb angle and to disconnect the fuel line to the carburetor. When the fuel flow stops, the amount remaining in the fuel tank is considered as unusable fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N121JN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N121JN-2015-05-14), registration cancelled 2015-05-14, S/N 6-7109, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JEROME A BAAK CH 601XL - Registry model: [Jerome A Baak CH 601XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/jerome-a-baak-ch-601xl) (registry code 05631LE) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Corvair GO-140](https://openairdocs.org/engine/corvair-go-140) (registry code 18001, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6-7109 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 119 - Engines: Corvair 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Baak Jerome A - Registered owner: Baak Jerome A - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 10, 2014 - Departed: SC55, Ehrhardt, SC - Destination: SMS, Sumter, SC - Airport: SMS, Sumter Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; last flight review April 23, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,462 total, 125 in this make and model, 6,315 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: SMS, 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 20140427005899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140427005899A), Apr 27, 2014: Jerome A Baak CH 601XL, Sumter, SC, Substantial damage. On April 27, 2014, at about 3:50 eastern standard time (EST), an experimental amateur-built zodiac xl, N121JN, sustained substantial damage landing short of… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 11, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89124. 781 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 421 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413220&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report and Record (item 2, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413221&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report%20and%20Record-Master.PDF - Record of Conversations (item 3, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413222&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations-Redacted.PDF - Excerpts of Advisory Circular 90-89A (item 4, .PDF, 231 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413223&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20of%20Advisory%20Circular%2090-89A-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.