# NTSB ERA21LA022: Champion 7FC, N7532E, Moneta, VA, October 14, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 14, 2020, 16:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: Moneta, VA · On W91 Airport - Coordinates: 37.107722, -79.592472 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1077&lon=-79.5925&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: 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): 102159 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102159/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102159 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA022 ## Probable cause The fight instructor’s failure to ensure that the fuel selector handle was in the correct position, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during initial climb due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7FC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=21101NX), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [Action: incomplete action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7FC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md?model=21101NX), [All aircraft, 105 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/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: [Champion 7FC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=21101NX), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Champion 7FC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=21101NX), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Champion 7FC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=21101NX), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor was providing instruction to the private pilot in the tailwheel equipped vintage airplane. The flight instructor was seated in the rear seat and the private pilot was seated in the front seat. On the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, the flight instructor told the private pilot to apply carburetor heat. The carburetor heat knob and fuel selector handle were located near each other, behind the private pilot, who inadvertently moved the fuel selector handle, rather than the carburetor heat knob. The flight instructor moved the fuel selector handle back and took control of the airplane to demonstrate a touch-and-go landing. During subsequent initial climb, about 50 to 100 ft above ground level, the engine lost all power and the flight instructor performed a forced landing into trees, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. He added that it was possible that he did not position the fuel selector handle back to the correct position. Subsequent examination of the fuel selector handle by a mechanic revealed that the fuel valve operated normally. Given this information, it is likely that the flight instructor failed to position the fuel selector handle correctly, which subsequently resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor was providing instruction to the private pilot in the tailwheel equipped vintage airplane. The flight instructor was seated in the rear seat and the private pilot was seated in the front seat. On the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, the flight instructor told the private pilot to apply carburetor heat. The carburetor heat knob and fuel selector handle were located near each other, behind the private pilot, who inadvertently moved the fuel selector handle, rather than the carburetor heat knob. The flight instructor moved the fuel selector handle back and took control of the airplane to demonstrate a touch-and-go landing. During subsequent initial climb, about 50 to 100 ft above ground level, the engine lost all power and the flight instructor performed a forced landing into trees, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. He added that it was possible that he did not position the fuel selector handle back to the correct position. Subsequent examination of the fuel selector handle by a mechanic revealed that the fuel valve operated normally. Given this information, it is likely that the flight instructor failed to position the fuel selector handle correctly, which subsequently resulted in total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7532E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7532E-2022-12-31), registration cancelled 2022-12-31, S/N 7FC-242 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7FC - Registry model: [Champion 7FC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7fc) (registry code 21101NX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7FC-242 - Year built: 1958 - Airframe hours: 1961 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Seaplanes R Fun, Inc., doing business as Smith Mountain Lake Aviation - Registered owner: Seaplanes R Fun, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 30, 2020, 47 hours before - Airport: W91, Smith Mountain Lake Airport, runway 23, 3,058 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 3, 2019; seat: rear; restraint: none; flight hours: 1,041 total, 221 in this make and model, 946 as pilot in command, 148 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 29; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 29, 2019; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 201 total, 0 in this make and model, 141 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: ROA, 15 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 20201014016899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201014016899A), Oct 14, 2020: Champion 7FC, Moneta, VA, Substantial damage. The flight instructor and student were flying in the traffic pattern. When doing the before landing checklist on downwind the student pilot inadvertently shut… ## Other investigations on N7532E (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW69D0211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69D0211), Sep 21, 1968: Champion 7FC (N7532E), Collinston, LA, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102159. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11620379&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Interview summary (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11620183&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11620504&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.