ERA19TA254

The sport pilot filled his experimental amateur-built airplane with 10 gallons of fuel before the cross-country flight. During the 55-minute flight, the airplane used about 3 gallons of fuel. During the return flight, the pilot climbed the airplane to 5,000 ft mean sea level to avoid "bad" turbulence. Shortly thereafter, the pilot noticed the fuel gauge was indicating 4 gallons and quickly fell to 0 gallons before the engine lost all power. The pilot made a forced landing on top of the trees bordering a road with traffic then collided with the terrain adjacent to the road, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane’s left wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed that the fuel line to the sump, which was installed underneath the instrument panel between the rudder pedals, was broken. During the turbulence, the pilot likely inadvertently kicked the fuel line with his steel-toe boots, shearing it off at the fuel line connection barb, resulting in fuel exhaustion.

On August 17, 2019, about 1242 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Nieuport II, N112GV, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Talladega, Alabama. The sport pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was privately owned and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, that departed Bessemer Airport (EKY) Bessemer, Alabama, about 1200 and was destined for Talladega Municipal Airport (ASN) Talladega, Alabama. The pilot reported that he topped off his airplane with 10 gallons of fuel before his flight from ASN to EKY. During the 55-minute flight about 3 gallons of fuel was used, leaving 7 gallons for the return flight home. During the return flight back to ASN, he climbed up to 5,000 ft mean sea level (msl) to avoid "bad" turbulence. About 15 minutes from ASN the pilot started a descent to 3,000 ft msl, checked his fuel gauge, and noticed that it was reading 4 gallons of fuel remaining. Shortly thereafter the fuel gauge was reading near zero and the engine stopped. The pilot made a forced landing on top of the trees bordering a road that contained vehicle traffic. The airplane settled into the trees before colliding with the ground. The pilot stated the turbulence was very heavy during the flight and that he was getting "kicked" around by the turbulence. He was wearing steel toe boots and likely kicked off the fuel line which was located under the instrument panel between the rudder pedals. The line broke off and the fuel drained out. He stated the open cockpit creates a vacuum effect, so he never smelled the fuel as it drained. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane was substantially damaged during the landing in the trees. The left wing was bent at multiple locations and the fuselage was buckled. There were multiple ribs and stringers broken and several tears in the wing and fuselage fabric. Closer inspection of the fuel lines and tank revealed that the fuel line to the sump, which was positioned between the rudder pedals and underneath the fuel tank, was broken off at the fuel line connection barb. The pilot held a sport pilot certificate with an endorsement for airplane single-engine land. The pilot reported 132.9 total hours of flight experience. According to FAA airworthiness and airplane maintenance records, the airplane was issued a special airworthiness certificate for experimental amateur-built on March 17, 2016. It was a single place bi-wing airplane, of aluminum tube and fabric construction, that was equipped with tailwheel landing gear, and a Volkswagen horizontally opposed 4 cylinder engine driving a two blade fixed pitch wooden propeller. The weather conditions reported at St Clair County Airport (PLR) Pell City, Alabama, located about 5 nautical miles northwest of the accident site reported at 1235,included wind 4 knots and variable, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 35° C, dew point 19° C, and an altimeter setting of 30.00 inches of mercury.