# NTSB ERA15CA321: Quicksilver MXL II Sport, Pittsboro, NC, August 15, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 15, 2015, 18:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Pittsboro, NC - Coordinates: 35.814167, -79.244445 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8142&lon=-79.2444&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report March 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91810 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA321 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91810/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91810 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA321 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to open the fuel shutoff valve during the preflight examination of the airplane which resulted in a total loss of engine power during initial climb after takeoff due to fuel starvation. ## 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: [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/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: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, after takeoff during the climb at approximately 150 feet above ground level, the engine in the unregistered, two seat airplane lost power and the airplane's handling became "mushy." His passenger began to panic, and he found it hard to concentrate and figure out what was happening. The airplane began to lose altitude and he began maneuvering to find a field he could land in. He then noticed that there was a power line in front of him. He was able to clear the power line, but the airplane struck the top of a tree and was substantially damaged. The pilot advised that while maneuvering to land, that when he turned the airplane slightly to the right, the airplane "wanted to fly," and if lowered the nose of the airplane to maintain airspeed, the power seemed to increase slightly. Examination of the wreckage revealed that even though the fuel tank was 1/2 full, the fuel shutoff valve was in the "OFF" (closed) position. The horizontally mounted fuel filter which was located downstream of the closed shutoff valve was only 1/3 full and did not have enough fuel to reach the inlet or outlet ports on the filter. The fuel line to the carburetor was devoid of fuel, and the carburetor float bowl contained less than a teaspoon. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, after takeoff during the climb at approximately 150 feet above ground level, the engine in the unregistered, two seat airplane lost power and the airplane's handling became "mushy." His passenger began to panic, and he found it hard to concentrate and figure out what was happening. The airplane began to lose altitude and he began maneuvering to find a field he could land in. He then noticed that there was a power line in front of him. He was able to clear the power line, but the airplane struck the top of a tree and was substantially damaged. The pilot advised that while maneuvering to land, that when he turned the airplane slightly to the right, the airplane "wanted to fly," and if lowered the nose of the airplane to maintain airspeed, the power seemed to increase slightly. Examination of the wreckage revealed that even though the fuel tank was 1/2 full, the fuel shutoff valve was in the "OFF" (closed) position. The horizontally mounted fuel filter which was located downstream of the closed shutoff valve was only 1/3 full and did not have enough fuel to reach the inlet or outlet ports on the filter. The fuel line to the carburetor was devoid of fuel, and the carburetor float bowl contained less than a teaspoon. ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: QUICKSILVER MXL II Sport - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: None - Engines: Rotax 582 64 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: None - Departed: 1NC1, Pittsboro, NC - Destination: 1NC1, Pittsboro, NC - Airport: 1NC1, Ron's Ultralight Field, runway 32, 1,600 × 125 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 400 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KIGX, 11 nm away ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 3, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91810. 1.9 MB in all. - Witness Statements and Interview Summaries (item 1, .PDF, 202 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433093&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements%20and%20Interview%20Summaries-Master.PDF - Satellite Image of Accident Area (item 2, .PDF, 203 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433094&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Satellite%20Image%20of%20Accident%20Area-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records - KIGX METARs (item 3, .PDF, 159 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433095&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20-%20KIGX%20METARs-Master.PDF - Memorandum for the Record - NTSB Form 6120 Non-Return (item 4, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433096&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20-%20NTSB%20Form%206120%20Non-Return-Master.PDF - Photographs and Images (item 5, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433097&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photographs%20and%20Images-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.