# NTSB ERA14LA355: Pipistrel Alpha Trainer, N10PU, Pompano Beach, FL, July 16, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 15, 2014, 21:15 local (Jul 16, 2014, 01:15 UTC)
- Place: Pompano Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 26.244722, -80.106109 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.2447&lon=-80.1061&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 4, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89732
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14LA355
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89732/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89732
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA355

## Probable cause

The pilot’s miscalculation of the fuel quantity requirements, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.

## Findings

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

- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=060009K), [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: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=060009K), [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.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=060009K), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=060009K), [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: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=060009K), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=060009K), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, during the preflight inspection, he determined that the airplane had 45 percent of its fuel capacity (5.7 of 12.7 usable gallons). He determined the fuel amount by viewing the indicators on the cockpit panel and by "dipping" the tank and noting that the fuel level was just below the halfway mark on the dip stick. He found no water or grit in the fuel. The pilot reported that the flight was intended to be 1 hour long and that, per the airplane's performance criteria, he calculated that the engine would consume 3.6 gallons of fuel during the flight. The pilot took off on the local flight, and, when the airplane was inbound toward his home airport, the engine "abruptly stopped." He then diverted toward a closer airport and attempted to restart the engine without success. While approaching the airport, he made shallow turns to align the airplane with a runway, but the airplane's left wing impacted a tree, and the airplane subsequently impacted the airport perimeter fence. The cockpit GPS indicated that the flight was 0.9 hour long. No fuel was found in the fuel tanks or lines, and no evidence of fuel leakage was found at the accident site.

## Factual narrative

On July 15, 2014, about 2115 eastern daylight time, a Pipistrel ALPHA Trainer, N10PU, was substantially damaged during a forced landing while approaching Pompano Beach Airpark (PMP), Pompano Beach, Florida. The commercial pilot and the passenger were not injured. There was no flight plan for the local flight, which originated at Antiquers Aerodrome (FD08), Delray Beach, Florida. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.According to the pilot, during the preflight inspection, he determined the airplane to have 45% of its fuel capacity, or 5.7 of 12.7 usable gallons. He determined the amount by viewing the indicators on the panel and by "dipping" the tank, noting the fuel level to be just below the half-way mark on the dip stick. No water or grit was found in the fuel. The pilot also noted that the flight was to be 1 hour in duration, and per performance criteria of the airplane, should have consumed 3.6 gallons. He further noted that after takeoff, he flew southbound at an altitude of 500 to 600 feet to South Beach, after which, he turned the airplane northbound to return to FD08. During the northbound trek, the pilot called Boca Raton Tower and received approval for direct routing to FD08. The pilot initiated a climb to FD08 pattern altitude, turned toward the airport, and the engine "abruptly stopped." He then turned the airplane toward PMP, advised Boca Raton Tower that he would be landing at PMP, and attempted an engine restart without success. The pilot then gradually descended the airplane from 600 feet, making "deliberate" shallow turns to align the airplane for landing on runway 28. The runway was in sight when the airplane's left wing impacted a tree between the Pompano Golf Course and the airport perimeter fence. The airplane yawed left, impacted the fence, and came to rest on the fence. Time logged on the cockpit GPS was 0.9 hours from FD08 to PMP. According to the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, he found no fuel in the tanks or lines, and no evidence of fuel leakage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N10PU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10PU-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 451 AT 912 LSA, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPISTREL ALPHA TRAINER
- Registry model: [Pipistrel Lsa S R L ALPHA TRAINER](https://openairdocs.org/model/pipistrel-lsa-s-r-l-alpha-trainer) (registry code 060009K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul2) (registry code 55574, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 451 AT 912 LSA
- Year built: 2012
- Airframe hours: 180
- Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Second Wind Aircraft Services Inc
- Registered owner: Second Wind Aircraft Services Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 19, 2014, 35 hours before
- Departed: FD08, Delray Beach, FL
- Destination: FD08, Delray Beach, FL
- Airport: PMP, Pompano Beach Airpark, runway 28, 3,502 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Airframe parachute

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 8, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,732 total, 54 in this make and model, 5,320 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PMP, 5 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 20140715013679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140715013679A), Jul 15, 2014: Pipistrel Lsa S R L ALPHA TRAINER, Pompano Beach, FL, Destroyed. Pilot stated he departed with approximately 45% (5.4 gallons) of fuel on board from delray Beach Florida, heading to biscayne bay for sightseeing with pax.…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89732. 4.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420404&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Additional Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 481 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420405&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Additional%20Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420407&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF
- Photo – Airplane Caught in Airport Perimeter Fence (Internet Photo) (item 4, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420406&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%E2%80%93%20Airplane%20Caught%20in%20Airport%20Perimeter%20Fence%20(Internet%20Photo)%20%20%20%20%20-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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