# NTSB ERA21LA018: Zenith Stol CH801, N801TP, Apison, TN, October 12, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 12, 2020, 17:18 local (21:18 UTC) - Place: Apison, TN - Coordinates: 35.03449, -85.027535 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0345&lon=-85.0275&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 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): 102131 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA018 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102131/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102131 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA018 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, as a result of an incorrectly placarded fuel selector. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Faulkner Thomas A ZENITH CH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05617LA), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Maintenance: modification/alteration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Faulkner Thomas A ZENITH CH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030/cases.md?model=05617LA), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Faulkner Thomas A ZENITH CH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05617LA), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the accident flight was his first flight in the experimental amateur-built airplane, and it was the first flight after a condition inspection. After an uneventful takeoff, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power during the initial climb about 800 ft above ground level. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and subsequently performed a forced landing to a grassy clearing about 1 mile from the departure runway. During the rollout, the airplane impacted thick vegetation and trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left fuel tank was empty, and the right fuel tank contained about 12 gallons. Additionally, the fuel selector placards for LEFT and RIGHT were mislabeled backwards. The pilot reported that prior to takeoff, there was about 15 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank, and “only a couple of gallons” in the left fuel tank. As a result, he placed the fuel selector toward the sticker-type placard that stated RIGHT, although the fuel selector was pointed toward the left wing. According to the pilot, the most recent condition inspection did not involve any action that would have involved the fuel selector placards. Review of past maintenance records found several instances of fuel system maintenance; however, no entry described an action about placards at the fuel selector. Therefore, the investigation was unable to identify when the fuel tanks became incorrectly placarded. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N801TP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N801TP), registered now, S/N 4827 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ZENITH STOL CH801 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Faulkner Thomas A ZENITH CH 801](https://openairdocs.org/model/faulkner-thomas-a-zenith-ch-801) (registry code 05617LA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 4827 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 183 - Engines: Subaru EggenFellner H6 A/B 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Gospel Ministries International Inc. - Registered owner: Gospel Ministries International Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 7, 2020, 0 hours before - Departed: FGU, Collegedale, TN - Airport: FGU, Collegedale Municipal Airport, runway 21, 4,986 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 16, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,097 total, 1 in this make and model, 2,002 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: CHA, 9 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 20201012016919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201012016919A), Oct 12, 2020: Faulkner Thomas A ZENITH CH 801, Collegedale, TN, Substantial damage. Pilot departed runway planning on staying in the pattern, made left turn on crosswind , then left turn down wind at which point the engine quit running. Pilot… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102131. 14.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 7.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11658825&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120.1%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (FAA) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11659227&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA)-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (pilot in command) (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11659152&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command)-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records - fuel system (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11658904&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Fuel%20Records%20-%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11658611&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.