# NTSB ERA18LA113: Fairchild Funk M62C F 23A, N1131Z, Columbia, TN, March 23, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 23, 2018, 16:10 local (21:10 UTC) - Place: Columbia, TN - Coordinates: 35.613334, -86.985 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6133&lon=-86.9850&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96924 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96924/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96924 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA113 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent selection of the fuel selector handle to the off position, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Fairchild Funk M62C F-23A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=3374004), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Fairchild Funk M62C F-23A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=3374004), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Fairchild Funk M62C F-23A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=3374004), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Fairchild Funk M62C F-23A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=3374004), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/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 starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Fairchild Funk M62C F-23A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=3374004), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Fairchild Funk M62C F-23A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3374004), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Fairchild Funk M62C F-23A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3374004), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Fairchild Funk M62C F-23A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3374004), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that he departed for the cross-country flight with a full load of fuel. During cruise flight, he attempted to balance the fuel load by turning the fuel selector from the left tank to the right tank; shortly thereafter, the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the problem and restart the engine but was unsuccessful. The pilot performed a forced landing to a soft field; during the landing, the airplane settled into the mud, which resulted in separation of the landing gear and substantial damage to the wing spar. Postaccident examination revealed that the left fuel tank was ruptured and contained no fuel, while the right fuel tank contained about 16 gallons of fuel. Additional examination of the fuel system did not reveal any evidence of preimpact malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. During a postaccident interview, the pilot stated that he routinely flew an airplane of a similar model with a different fuel selector configuration than the accident airplane. The pilot stated that when changing fuel tanks, he may have inadvertently positioned the fuel selector to an incorrect position. Because the engine failure occurred immediately after the pilot changed the fuel selector position, it is likely that the pilot inadvertently turned the fuel selector to the off position, which starved the engine of fuel and resulted in the total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On March 23, 2018, about 1610 central daylight time, a Fairchild Funk M62C F-23A, N1131Z, operated by the Texas Air Museum, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Columbia, Tennessee. The private pilot was not injured and the airplane received substantial damage. The flight was operated in accordance with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Smyrna Airport (MQY), Smyrna, Tennessee and was destined for Slaton Municipal Airport (F49), Slaton, Texas. The pilot reported that before departing MQY, the airplane had a full fuel load of 44 gallons. He was anticipating making three or four stops along the 700-mile route. About 30 minutes after departing MQY, at an altitude of 2,500 ft mean sea level, he switched the fuel selector handle from the left tank to the right to "balance the load." About 1 minute after changing tanks, the engine began to "cough," then it shut down. The pilot attempted to restart the engine by switching the fuel selector back to the left tank, increased the mixture and turned on the fuel boost pump followed by the manual boost pump, but he was unable to restart the engine. His altitude was about 1,500 ft above ground level when he stopped trying to restart the engine. He found a long, grassy field and landed the airplane, but as the airplane touched down it sunk into the soft ground during the landing roll, which sheared off the landing gear as the airplane skidded to a stop. During a postaccident interview the pilot stated that it was possible that he switched the selector to the incorrect position, but he could not be sure. He described that of the two of the airplanes he flies, the M62C, the accident airplane and the other airplane, an M62 are very similar; however, the accident airplane had a fuel selector handle and markings that were dissimilar to those of the other airplane he operated more frequently. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the right main landing gear separated from the airplane and the wing spar was bent. The left fuel tank was ruptured and contained no fuel. The right fuel tank indicated three-quarters or about 16 gallons of fuel. Several pieces of wreckage led from the touchdown point to the final resting place of the airplane; a distance of about 75 feet. Additional examination of the fuel system revealed no anomalies or defects. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. His total flight time reported was 371 hours, of which, 18.9 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 1965; it was a single-engine, low-wing, tandem two-seat airplane that was issued a special airworthiness certificate for experimental exhibition on July 7, 2012. It incorporated tailwheel landing gear and was equippedwith a Jacobs R-755B2M, 275 hp radial engine and a 22-gallon fuel tank in each wing. The engine had accumulated 3,026 hours total time and 175.2 hours total time since major overhaul as of its last condition inspection on July 22, 2017. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1131Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1131Z), registered now, S/N 9, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD FUNK M62C F 23A (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Fairchild Funk M62C F-23A](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-funk-m62c-f-23a) (registry code 3374004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jacobs R-755B2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-r-755b2) (registry code 35023, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 9 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 1788 - Engines: Jacobs RT55B2 275 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Texas Air Museum - Registered owner: Texas Air Museum - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 22, 2017 - Departed: MQY, SMYRNA, TN - Destination: F49, SLATON, TX - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 24, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 371 total, 19 in this make and model, 234 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Observed at: KMRC, 12 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 20180323014619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180323014619A), Mar 23, 2018: Fairchild Funk M62C F-23A, Columbia, TN, Substantial damage. 20 Minutes into flight, pilot switched from left tank to right tank. Engine ran for about a minute and then started to run rough. Pilot switched back to the… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 7, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96924. 13.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 887 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470911&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 182 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470912&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Pilot Logbook Excerpt (item 3, .PDF, 955 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470913&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook%20Excerpt-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records Excerpts (item 4, .PDF, 541 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470914&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20Excerpts-Master.PDF - Post Accident Maintenance Inspection (item 5, .PDF, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470915&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Post%20Accident%20Maintenance%20Inspection-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Report (item 6, .PDF, 9.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470916&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Report-Master.PDF - Accident Site and Damage Photographs (item 7, .PDF, 5 photos, 765 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470917&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-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.