# NTSB ERA21LA393: Vans RV8, N388RV, Delray, FL, September 3, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 3, 2021, 12:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Delray, FL · on horse race track - Coordinates: 26.45524, -80.210727 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4552&lon=-80.2107&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - 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): 104183 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA393 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104183/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104183 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA393 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and improper fuel planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. ## 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: [Ave Stephen RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05610A7), [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: [Ave Stephen RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=05610A7), [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: [Ave Stephen RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05610A7), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Ave Stephen RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=05610A7), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/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: [Ave Stephen RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=05610A7), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Ave Stephen RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05610A7), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Ave Stephen RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05610A7), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the preflight inspection he was unable to measure the fuel quantity with a dipstick, due to the tailwheel airplane’s tail-low attitude as it sat on the ramp. He stated that he “rocked the wing back and forth…to see the fuel sloshing around” and estimated that the left tank contained 9-10 gallons, and the right tank had “less fuel visible.” The purpose of the flight was to refuel the airplane at the destination airport, where fuel was less expensive. He estimated a fuel burn of 4-5 gallons for the planned 30-minute flight. While enroute, the pilot diverted his course to avoid rain showers that were developing before he ultimately decided to return to the departure airport. During the return, the engine began to “sputter,” at which time he turned on the electric fuel pump and switched the fuel selector from the left tank to the right tank. Sometime after, the engine sputtered again, and he decided to perform an off-airport landing. During landing the airplane struck a fence rail, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings. A post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the damaged fuel tanks were devoid of fuel, with no indications of fuel having leaked from them, and no odor of fuel was noted at the scene. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N388RV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N388RV), registered now, S/N 80787, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV8 - Registry model: [Ave Stephen RV8](https://openairdocs.org/model/ave-stephen-rv8) (registry code 05610A7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 80787 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 202 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: LNA, West Palm Beach, FL - Destination: IMM, Immokalee, FL - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; flight hours: 24,388 total, 72 in this make and model, 73 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: BCT, 7 nm away - METAR: METAR KBCT 031659Z 22010KT 10SM CLR 31/24 A2999= ## 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 20210903015279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210903015279A), Sep 3, 2021: Ave Stephen RV8, Delray Beach, FL, Destroyed. On 9/3/2021 N388RV, an RV8, a homebuild experimental aircraft, took off from klna to kimm for the purpose of refueling. The weather condition was 2500 ft.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104183. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot's statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 851 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13802869&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%20Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - information from FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13802879&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02%20%20MFR%20-%20Information%20from%20FAA%20Inspector_ERA22LA393-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 8 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13802558&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-03%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13802889&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01-%20photo%20array_ERA21LA393-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.