# NTSB ERA19LA219: Vans RV 4, N102GL, Williamson, GA, June 27, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 27, 2019, 18:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Williamson, GA - Coordinates: 33.154724, -84.372222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1547&lon=-84.3722&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: 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): 99804 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA219 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99804/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99804 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA219 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent misplacement of the fuel selector, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## 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: [Berthe Charles J RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=056084F), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Berthe Charles J RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=056084F), [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. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Berthe Charles J RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056084F), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Berthe Charles J RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=056084F), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Berthe Charles J RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056084F), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he switched the fuel selector while taxiing for takeoff. During takeoff, about 150 ft above ground level, the engine lost total power and impacted trees. Postaccident examination revealed that the fuel selector was between the right and left tank positions. No fuel was found in the carburetor bowl and about 1 ounce of fuel was found in the accelerator pump cavity. No other anomalies were found with the engine. Therefore, the loss of engine power was likely due to the pilot's inadvertent placement of the fuel selector between the two tanks, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On June 27, 2019, about 1810 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built RV-4, N102GL, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Williamson, Georgia. The commercial pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he had just taken ownership of the airplane and was departing the previous owner's airport. He performed a preflight inspection, but did not sample the fuel or visually confirm the fuel quantity. The pilot stated that on an earlier flight, the previous owner told him that when one fuel tank was 25% lower than the other tank, he would switch tanks to keep the fuel levels balanced. He started the engine and taxied to the end of the runway. During the taxi, one fuel tank was 25% lower than the other tank, so he reached down and switched the fuel selector to the other tank. He then performed an engine run-up and departed to the east. The airplane lifted off about halfway down the 2,500-ft-long turf runway with the engine producing 2,700 rpm. About 150 ft above ground level, the pilot reduced engine power to 2,500 rpm, but seconds later, the engine lost all power. The pilot performed a forced landing to treetops straight ahead. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts and the left wing. An inspection of the cockpit revealed that the fuel selector valve was positioned about 2/3 between the right fuel tank and the left fuel tank; closer to the left tank. The carburetor was disassembled; the bowl contained no fuel and about 1 ounce of fuel was found in the accelerator pump cavity. The fuel pump and fuel lines were removed as a unit, with about a teaspoon of fuel present, and the fuel pump was functionally checked and pumped normally. The engine compression and continuity of the accessory drive train was checked, and no anomalies were found. The magnetos produced spark. The oil filter was removed, disassembled, and found to be clean. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N102GL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N102GL-2020-09-18), registration cancelled 2020-09-18, S/N 1052, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans RV 4 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Berthe Charles J RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/berthe-charles-j-rv-4) (registry code 056084F) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1052 - Year built: 1987 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 11, 2019 - Departed: 5GA3, Williamson, GA - Destination: 5GA3, Williamson, GA - Airport: 5GA3, Eagles Landing, runway 13, 2,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: serious; military, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 18, 2018; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,600 total, 20 in this make and model, 2,800 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: 6A2, 7 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 20190627021519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190627021519A), Jun 27, 2019: Berthe Charles J RV-4, Williamson, GA, Substantial damage. On 06/27/2019 at 1810L the accident pilot departed runway 13 at Eagles Landing Airport (5GA3) located in pike county Georgia, a 2500? Grass runway. The… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 9, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99804. 8.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 8.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10886536&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20-%20ERA19LA219_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10884677&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Pilot%20interview-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10882475&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-FAA%20statement-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 2 photos, 346 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10884687&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20-%20ERA19LA219%20-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.