# NTSB ERA19LA014: Hargrove Hummel Ultra Cruiser, N245AP, Zephyrhills, FL, October 15, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 15, 2018, 14:16 local (18:16 UTC) - Place: Zephyrhills, FL - Coordinates: 28.260833, -82.210556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2608&lon=-82.2106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98488 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98488/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98488 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA014 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to activate the airplane’s auxiliary fuel pump, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident were the impairing effects of the pilot’s medication on his performance. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hargrove James D HUMMEL-ULTRA CRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=056230X), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel pumps](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Hargrove James D HUMMEL-ULTRA CRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822/cases.md?model=056230X), [All aircraft, 71 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822/cases.md) - [Impairment/incapacitation: prescription medication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012025): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hargrove James D HUMMEL-ULTRA CRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012025/cases.md?model=056230X), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012025/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) (defining event); cases with it: [Hargrove James D HUMMEL-ULTRA CRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=056230X), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Hargrove James D HUMMEL-ULTRA CRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056230X), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hargrove James D HUMMEL-ULTRA CRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056230X), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Before departing on a on a local pleasure flight, the sport pilot reported that he did not activate the airplane’s auxiliary fuel pump, which would have replenished the header fuel tank with fuel from the airplane’s two main wing fuel tanks. About 5 minutes later, the airplane’s engine lost power when the fuel supply in the header tank was exhausted. The pilot attempted a forced landing, but as he maneuvered the airplane to avoid a tree, the airplane stalled and descended into the tree. The pilot was seriously injured and the airplane’s fuselage and wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported taking gabapentin prior to the flight. Gabapentin carries the warning, “patients should be advised that gabapentin may cause dizziness, somnolence and other symptoms and signs of central nervous system depression.” It is likely the impairing effects of gabapentin contributed to the pilot's failure to turn on the fuel pump, which led to fuel starvation and the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On October 15, 2018, about 1416 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Hummel-Ultra Cruiser Plus, N245AP was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Zephyrhills, Florida. The sport pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that he had been taking gabapentin four times a day for about 3 months before the accident, and since taking it, he noticed his reactions were not what they previously were. Earlier that day he took his first dosage of gabapentin then flew the airplane uneventfully several times in the airport traffic pattern at Zephyrhills Municipal Airport (ZPH), Zephyrhills, Florida. After securing the airplane, which included turning off the auxiliary fuel pump, he took a second dose of gabapentin then fueled the airplane bringing the total fuel capacity to about 8 gallons. After fueling, he received a call from his sister who asked him to fly over her location. He agreed but, "did not recall turning on the auxiliary fuel pump before departure." He departed ZPH, turned crosswind and announced leaving the airport pattern. He climbed to 2,000 ft mean sea level (msl) and turned southwest towards his sister's house. After about 5 minutes the engine “sputtered a few times” and then lost power completely. He checked the throttle and tried to restart adding that the engine turned over normally but did not start. He spotted a large clear field to his left and maneuvered for a forced landing. About 200 ft msl he maneuvered the airplane with no flaps deployed to avoid a tree that was ahead. At that time, "…the right wing [stalled] and the [airplane]" descended into the tree. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector revealed both fuel shutoff valves were on and both main fuel tanks were breached. The pilot also stated that following recovery of the airplane the header fuel tank was empty. The airplane's fuel system consisted of a 7.0-gallon capacity fuel tank in the leading edge of each wing near the wing root, a fuel shutoff valve for each tank, lines from each wing fuel tank to a 1-liter header tank, and then lines that supplied fuel to the engine. An electrically operated auxiliary fuel pump pulled fuel from the wing fuel tanks to the header tank located at the top of the fuselage behind the firewall. Based on the pilot's previous testing, the length of time that it took to deplete the fuel supply in the header tank by not having the auxiliary fuel pump on was about the same length of time of the accident flight. He also indicated there was no engine failure or malfunction. Gabapentin, often marketed with the name Neurontin, carries the following warning regarding central nervous system symptoms, “Patients should be advised that gabapentin may cause dizziness, somnolence and other symptoms and signs of central nervous system depression. Accordingly, theyshould be advised neither to drive a car nor to operate other complex machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on gabapentin to gauge whether or not it affects their mental and/or motor performance adversely.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N245AP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N245AP-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N 132-B (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HARGROVE HUMMEL ULTRA CRUISER (Plus) - Registry model: [Hargrove James D HUMMEL-ULTRA CRUISER](https://openairdocs.org/model/hargrove-james-d-hummel-ultra-cruiser) (registry code 056230X) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 132-B - Year built: 2017 - Engines: Volkswagen 2400cc reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: ZPH, Zephyrhills, FL - Destination: ZPH, Zephyrhills, FL - Airport: ZPH, Zephyrhills - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: serious; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 100 total, 60 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,400 ft broken - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: ZPH, 3 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 20181015020129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181015020129A), Oct 15, 2018: Hargrove James D HUMMEL-ULTRA CRUISER, Zephyrhills, FL, Substantial damage. Initial investigation revealed the right fuel tank had about 50% of the fuel in it. The engine showed excessive gaps on the left bank of the cylinders where… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 16, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98488. 1.8 MB in all. - Record of NTSB conversations (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9274840&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversations_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9203810&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9275770&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs_ERA19LA014-Rel.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.