# NTSB ERA23LA028: Mcglaughlin Richard Sportsman GS2, N302BM, Pell City, AL, October 14, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 14, 2022, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Pell City, AL - Coordinates: 33.558833, -86.249056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5588&lon=-86.2491&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): 106162 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106162/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106162 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA028 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during cruise flight 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: [Mcglaughlin Richard SPORTSMAN GS2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05627HZ), [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: [Mcglaughlin Richard SPORTSMAN GS2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05627HZ), [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. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Mcglaughlin Richard SPORTSMAN GS2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05627HZ), [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: [Mcglaughlin Richard SPORTSMAN GS2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05627HZ), [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: [Mcglaughlin Richard SPORTSMAN GS2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05627HZ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental airplane stated that his electronic cockpit display indicated 23 gallons of fuel prior to flight, but he did not visually inspect the fuel tanks as it would have required a step ladder. About 10 minutes after takeoff, the engine lost all power, and the pilot performed a forced landing in a field. During the landing, the airplane impacted a ditch and came to rest upright. The pilot checked the fuel tanks after the accident, and they were empty. Other than the fuel gauge, the pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that main landing gear separated and the left wing strut sustained substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N302BM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N302BM), registered now, S/N 7283, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MCGLAUGHLIN RICHARD SPORTSMAN GS2 - Registry model: [Mcglaughlin Richard SPORTSMAN GS2](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcglaughlin-richard-sportsman-gs2) (registry code 05627HZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-390 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-390-series) (registry code 41678, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 7283 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 418 - Engines: Lycoming IO-390 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 22, 2022, 2 hours before - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 3, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,500 total, 418 in this make and model, 4,300 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: PLR, 4 nm away - METAR: METAR KPLR 142155Z AUTO 23008KT 10SM CLR 24/02 A2998 ## 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 20221014016179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221014016179A), Oct 14, 2022: Mcglaughlin Richard SPORTSMAN GS2, Pell City, AL, Substantial damage. While performing air work, the aircraft engine began to studdered and quit. The pilot made and emergency landing in A field approximately 3.5 miles east of the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106162. 2.7 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=14612392&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14622474&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 295 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14612289&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.