# NTSB ERA20LA332: Glasair 1RG, N324DJ, Hagerstown, MD, September 23, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 23, 2020, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Hagerstown, MD - Coordinates: 39.703511, -77.728982 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7035&lon=-77.7290&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern crosswind: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102030 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA332 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102030/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102030 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA332 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hunt Richard E GLASAIR RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=0569132), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hunt Richard E GLASAIR RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=0569132), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Hunt Richard E GLASAIR RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0569132), [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. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Hunt Richard E GLASAIR RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=0569132), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern crosswind: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Hunt Richard E GLASAIR RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=0569132), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Hunt Richard E GLASAIR RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0569132), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hunt Richard E GLASAIR RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0569132), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot dropped off the airplane for repairs 6 months before the accident with the fuel tanks about half full of fuel. When the pilot picked up the airplane, he completed a preflight inspection and observed fuel in the fuel tanks but could not say how much fuel was present. He did not add any fuel. He took off and stayed in the traffic pattern, and after his third touch-and-go landing, the engine lost all power. The pilot circled to land on an intersecting runway, and the airplane stalled while on final approach to the runway. The airplane contacted the terrain short of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and the left wing. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any fuel in the tanks, and no preimpact mechanical malfunctions were identified. It is likely that the engine consumed the remaining fuel during the engine run-up, taxi, and subsequent touch-and-go landings, resulting in the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On September 23, 2020, about 1145 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Glasair 1RG, N324DJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hagerstown, Maryland. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, the airplane had been repaired over a period of 6 months at Hagerstown Regional Airport-Richard A Henson Field (HGR), Hagerstown, Maryland. He recalled the airplane’s fuel tanks to be about half full when he dropped the airplane off for repairs in March 2020. On the day of the accident, the pilot conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane in the repair station’s hangar. During the preflight inspection, he observed fuel in the fuel tanks but could not say how much fuel was present. He also found discrepancies with the repair work that had been completed. Once the repairs were finished, the pilot finished the preflight inspection, did not add any fuel, conducted a run-up, and took off from HGR, remaining in the traffic pattern conducting takeoffs and landings. While on the crosswind leg following the third takeoff, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot continued a circling approach to runway 2, but the airplane stalled and impacted terrain about 500 ft short of the runway. Firefighters and a witness on scene reported no fire, fuel leaking, or fuel smell at the accident site. An inspection of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that all major components of the airplane were located at the accident site; there was substantial damage to the fuselage and the left wing. The engine and airframe were later examined by an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board and an FAA inspector. Trace amounts of fuel were found in both the carburetor and fuel pump, but no fuel was noted in any of the three fuel tanks or fuel lines. The examination revealed engine continuity to the crankshaft and valvetrain by rotating the propeller by hand. All valve push rods and rocker arms were undamaged and operated as expected. The top spark plugs were removed and appeared normal. Both magnetos produced spark on all leads when the engine was rotated by hand and each plug wire was grounded to the engine. The carburetor was removed, examined, and appeared to operate as designed. The engine-driven fuel pump was removed and operated; all parts moved without resistance, and a crack was observed on the fuel intake port that was from impact forces. There was no apparent engine damage that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N324DJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N324DJ-2020-12-28), registration cancelled 2020-12-28, S/N 324 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Glasair 1RG (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Hunt Richard E GLASAIR RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/hunt-richard-e-glasair-rg) (registry code 0569132) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 324 - Year built: 1990 - Engines: Lycoming 0-320-E2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 23, 2020 - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: HGR, Hagerstown Regional Airport-Richard A Henson Field, runway 02, 3,165 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 12, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,139 total, 217 in this make and model, 1,551 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: HGR, 1 nm away - METAR: KHGR 231553Z 32008KT 10SM CLR 23/08 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP175 T02330083 ## 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 20200923015739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200923015739A), Sep 23, 2020: Hunt Richard E GLASAIR RG, Hagerstown, MD, Substantial damage. 9/23/2020 - N324DJ was in the VFR pattern to RWY27. The aircraft declared engine out and was observed banking toward RWY02. The aircraft was then cleared to… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 23, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102030. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14453769&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_N324DJ_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot interview (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 227 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14452954&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot_Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14453631&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements_2_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 244 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14454010&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs_N324DJ-Rel.pdf - Engine examination (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14455084&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA20LA332%20_N324DJ%20Engine%20Examination-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.