# NTSB ERA20CA201: Jabiru J250-SP, N619J, Gulf Of Mexico, June 1, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 1, 2020, 10:53 local (14:53 UTC) - Place: Gulf Of Mexico - Coordinates: 26.014999, -82.112503 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0150&lon=-82.1125&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101356 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA201 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101356/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101356 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA201 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to a fuel leak that could not be identified since the wreckage was not recovered. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=060001T), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=060001T), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=060001T), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=060001T), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was conducting a cross country flight and departed the airport with slightly less than 36 gallons of fuel on board. About 1.5 hours into the flight, he noticed that the fuel tank quantities were dropping rapidly. The engine subsequently lost all power, and he set up for a ditching in the Gulf of Mexico. After ditching, the pilot and passenger were picked up by a U.S. Navy helicopter and transported to a local hospital for observation. The airplane eventually sank and was not recovered. The pilot also reported that the engine consumed about 5.5 to 6 gallons of fuel per hour and he suspected a breach of the fuel system prior to the loss of engine power. The airplane was configured with two wing tanks that gravity fed to a header tank; both tanks fed simultaneously utilizing an "On-Off" fuel selector in the cockpit. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was conducting a cross country flight and departed the airport with slightly less than 36 gallons of fuel on board. About 1.5 hours into the flight, he noticed that the fuel tank quantities were dropping rapidly. The engine subsequently lost all power, and he set up for a ditching in the Gulf of Mexico. After ditching, the pilot and passenger were picked up by a U.S. Navy helicopter and transported to a local hospital for observation. The airplane eventually sank and was not recovered. The pilot also reported that the engine consumed about 5.5 to 6 gallons of fuel per hour and he suspected a breach of the fuel system prior to the loss of engine power. The airplane was configured with two wing tanks that gravity fed to a header tank; both tanks fed simultaneously utilizing an "On-Off" fuel selector in the cockpit. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N619J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N619J-2023-02-07), registration cancelled 2023-02-07, S/N 457 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JABIRU J250-SP - Registry model: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP](https://openairdocs.org/model/jabiru-usa-sport-j250-sp) (registry code 060001T) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34801, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 457 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 290 - Engines: Jabiru 3300A 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 2019, 13 hours before - Departed: CGC, Crystal River, FL - Destination: EYW, Key West, FL - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review January 15, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 1,355 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: EYW, 22 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 20200601008129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200601008129A), Jun 1, 2020: Jabiru USA Sport Aircraft LLC J250-SP, Gulf Of Mexico, Destroyed. Aircraft ran out of fuel approximately 28 NM nne of key west (eyw) airport and made forced landing in the ocean. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 2, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101356. 7.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486612&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - NTSB Memorandum for Record - Wreckage Coordinates and Disposition (item 2, .PDF, 278 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486613&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Wreckage%20Coordinates%20and%20Disposition-Master.PDF - Jabiru Technical Manual Excerpts - Fuel System (item 3, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486614&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Jabiru%20Technical%20Manual%20Excerpts%20-%20Fuel%20System-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.