# NTSB ERA23LA053: Schmidt Randall M Bushby Mustang II, N30RK, Statesboro, GA, November 2, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 2, 2022, 17:26, time zone not recorded - Place: Statesboro, GA · Immediately adjacent to 205 Bruce Drive, Statesboro, GA - Coordinates: 32.43693, -81.796501 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4369&lon=-81.7965&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - 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): 106267 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106267/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106267 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA053 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the fuel exhaustion was the likely inaccurate right fuel quantity indicating system. ## 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 · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Schmidt Randall M BUSHBY MUSTANG II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1690641), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel quantity indicator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Schmidt Randall M BUSHBY MUSTANG II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841/cases.md?model=1690641), [All aircraft, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841/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: [Schmidt Randall M BUSHBY MUSTANG II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1690641), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Schmidt Randall M BUSHBY MUSTANG II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1690641), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schmidt Randall M BUSHBY MUSTANG II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1690641), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot just purchased the amateur-built airplane which was reportedly equipped with two fuel tanks in each wing totaling 22 gallons, or a total capacity of 44 gallons. According to the previous owner who was an airframe and powerplant mechanic, since filling the right fuel tank more than 1 month earlier, he flew the airplane on two separate flights totaling 1.3 hours. No additional flights were made by him after fueling. During an engine run before departure of the accident flight, the left and right fuel gauges indicated about one needle width from empty and 1/2 capacity, respectively. The new owner believed the depicted fuel amount was adequate for the intended short-duration flight to a nearby airport for fuel. He departed with the fuel selector on both, then shortly after takeoff moved it to the left fuel tank. About 13 minutes later the engine quit. He declared a mayday, moved the fuel selector to both and then right tank positions but that did not restore power. He flew towards a nearby airport but realized he was unable to land there. He maneuvered for a field, but about 26 minutes since departure the airplane collided with a tree adjacent to a residence, stalled, and impacted a portion of the house, the ground, and a car before coming to rest upright. Examination of the wreckage at the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no fuel remaining in either wing fuel tanks, in the airframe fuel strainer, fuel lines, or on the ground around the wreckage. Although the carburetor was impacted damaged, there were no fuel stains on or around it. Postaccident testing of the fuel quantity indicating system was not performed. The engine Operator’s Manual specified that the fuel consumption was about 9.0 gallons-per-hour at 65% power, or at economy cruise. Thus, for the approximate 30 minutes-long flight about 4.5 gallons of fuel were required. That value could have been reflected in any combination between the left and right fuel tanks, but it an extreme unbalance with no fuel in the left fuel tanks and all fuel in the right tanks would have reflected just under 1/4 capacity on the right fuel gauge. At no configuration based on the amount that was actually on-board should the right fuel gauge have indicated 1/2 capacity. Therefore, the right fuel quantity gauge likely indicated that the tanks contained more fuel than the amount that was actually on board, which resulted in inadequate fuel for the intended flight and a subsequent total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. As part of the airplane’s last condition inspection performed more than 12 months earlier by the previous owner, the accuracy of the fuel gauges at empty was not performed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N30RK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30RK-2024-06-01), registration cancelled 2024-06-01, S/N M-11-804, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHMIDT RANDALL M BUSHBY MUSTANG II (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Schmidt Randall M BUSHBY MUSTANG II](https://openairdocs.org/model/schmidt-randall-m-bushby-mustang-ii) (registry code 1690641) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: M-11-804 - Year built: 1996 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B3B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Toribio LLC - Registered owner: Toribio LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 23, 2021 - Departed: 2GA2, Springfield, GA - Destination: MHP, Metter, GA - Airport: TBR, Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 10, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 620 total, 0 in this make and model, 570 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KTBR, 4 nm away - METAR: KTBR 022135Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 25/12 A3018 RMK AO2 T02520116 ## 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 20221102023109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221102023109A), Nov 2, 2022: Schmidt Randall M BUSHBY MUSTANG II, Statesboro, GA, Substantial damage. New owner purchased aircraft and flew towards Statesboro ga. After 30 minutes of flight aircraft shut down and would not restart. Pilot tried to land in a… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106267. 21.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 9.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14912920&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20Master%20Form%20Fm%20Web%204%206%202022_Recd%2012%2027%202022_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpt from engine logbook (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14913427&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpt%20Fm%20Eng%20Logbook_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of NTSB conversations (item 3, PDF, 17 pages, 5 photos, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14953320&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversations_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA observations (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14952599&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Memo%20For%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Observations_ERA23LA053-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - airplane fuel information (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14954000&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Memo%20For%20Record%20-%20Airplane%20Fuel%20Information-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - fueling information (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14952944&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Memo%20For%20Record%20-%20Fueling%20Information-Rel.pdf - Excerpt from engine operator's manual (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 214 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14953779&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpt%20Fm%20Engine%20Operators%20Manual-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 8, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14954728&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14963871&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Executed%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form_ERA23LA053_Redacted-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.