# NTSB ERA22LA200: Titan T51, N151CM, Perry, FL, April 24, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 24, 2022, 12:24 local (16:24 UTC) - Place: Perry, FL · 1.17nm wnw from FPY - Coordinates: 30.080331, -83.60677 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0803&lon=-83.6068&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - 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): 104991 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA200 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104991/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104991 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA200 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection of the fuel quantity, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a subsequent total loss of engine power, and an off-airport landing. ## 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: [Mut Henry R T-51D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05639F1), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Mut Henry R T-51D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05639F1), [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: [Mut Henry R T-51D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=05639F1), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Mut Henry R T-51D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05639F1), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Mut Henry R T-51D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05639F1), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he topped off both wing fuel tanks about 2 weeks prior to the accident flight. The engine was ground run for about 10 minutes on the day after the fueling, after which the airplane was parked until the day of the accident flight. During the preflight inspection for the accident flight, the pilot sampled fuel from the fuel drains, but did not visually inspect the level of fuel in the fuel tanks, and assumed they were both full. About 1 hour into the flight, the engine started to “miss”, and the pilot then activated the fuel boost pump. The engine then ran normally for about 15 to 20 seconds before it began to “miss” again, until a few moments later when it lost all power. The pilot attempted to divert to a nearby airport, however during the approach he determined he would not reach the runway, and he selected a field for a forced landing. During landing the airplane struck trees, and a portion of the left wing separated about 3 ft outboard of the root. The airplane impacted terrain, came to rest inverted, and sustained additional substantial damage to the right wing, forward fuselage, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector observed that both of the left wing fuel tanks were breached and that only a trace amount of fuel was found in the fractured left wing fuel line near the fuselage. The right wing fuel tanks remained intact but were inaccessible. The inspector reported, and the pilot confirmed, that there was no odor of fuel at the accident site. Following the accident, pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident. He concluded that although he believed the fuel tanks were full prior to departure, they likely were not, and he did not confirm the fuel level during the preflight inspection. The pilot further described that the airplane was equipped with fuel quantity gauges, however the gauges were located in the footwell for the rear seat, near but below his hips when seated in the front seat, and they were difficult to see from the front seat position. He added that the fuel quantity gauges were of limited use. Due to the wing dihedral, the gauges would indicate “full” until about 8-12 gallons had been used, and then read empty after using another 3-4 gallons. He had instead used the fuel computer/totalizer indications to reference fuel quantity. He had previously calibrated the totalizer by comparing its indications with fueling records several times and found it to be accurate. Given this information it is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel exhaustion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N151CM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N151CM-2023-04-24), registration cancelled 2023-04-24, S/N M18XXXCOHK0218, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TITAN T51 (D) - Registry model: [Mut Henry R T-51D](https://openairdocs.org/model/mut-henry-r-t-51d) (registry code 05639F1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GM LS3](https://openairdocs.org/engine/gm-ls3) (registry code 30905, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: M18XXXCOHK0218 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 34.3 - Engines: General Motors LS3 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 6, 2021 - Departed: LAL, Lakeland, FL - Destination: 2J9, Quincy, FL - Airport: FPY, Perry-Foley Airport - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 9, 2020; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,177 total, 70 in this make and model, 1,177 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,900 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: TLH, 43 nm away - METAR: KTLH 241653Z 13008KT 10SM BKN039 26/16 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP216 T02610161 ## 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 20220424005769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220424005769A), Apr 24, 2022: Mut Henry R T-51D, Perry, FL, Substantial damage. On April 24, 2022, at 1320 EDT or 1720Z, N151CM, amateur built Mut Henry R T-51D, [privacy data omitted], was involved in an accident when trying to land at… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104991. 6.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14013847&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%20-%206120_1web_Reader%20-%20H%20Mut%20Response%2006062022_print_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - conversation with pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 743 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14014257&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02%20MFR%20-%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - information from FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 734 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14015005&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-03%20MFR%20-%20Information%20Provided%20by%20FAA%20Inspector_ERA22LA0200-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 5 photos, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14014887&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01%20Photo%20array_ERA22LA200-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.