# NTSB ERA23LA208: Vans RV6, N327WC, Eaton, OH, April 26, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 25, 2023, 20:35 local (Apr 26, 2023, 00:35 UTC) - Place: Eaton, OH - Coordinates: 39.7439, -84.6366 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7439&lon=-84.6366&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 107146 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107146/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107146 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA208 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rosenzweig Charles J RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=05605MS), [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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Rosenzweig Charles J RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05605MS), [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: [Rosenzweig Charles J RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05605MS), [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: [Rosenzweig Charles J RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05605MS), [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: [Rosenzweig Charles J RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05605MS), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Rosenzweig Charles J RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05605MS), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane purchased it the day before the accident. After the purchase, the pilot completed two flights in the airplane uneventfully. The next day, during the third flight, the engine lost all power and the airplane nosed over in a field during a forced landing, coming to rest inverted. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that both fuel tanks were absent of fuel and there was no evidence of fuel spillage at the accident site. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane’s automotive conversion engine were observed. When asked after the accident how much fuel was onboard when the airplane was delivered, and how much (if any) was added to it, the pilot responded that he did not know. The pilot believed that during a previous flight he had started with around 35 gallons and that 8 to 10 gallons should have been onboard at the time of the accident based on the airplane’s fuel quantity gauges. The previous owner stated that the airplane was delivered with approximately 3 gallons in the right-wing fuel tank and 10 gallons in the left-wing fuel tank. Based on this information, it is likely that the pilot overestimated the fuel quantity onboard the airplane, and had based that estimate on fuel quantity gauge indications that may have been inaccurate. This subsequently resulted in fuel exhaustion and the total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On April 25, 2023, about 2035 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV6, N327WC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Eaton, Ohio. The private pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that he purchased the airplane the day before the accident. After the purchase, the pilot completed two flights in the airplane uneventfully. The next day, during the third flight, the engine lost all power and the pilot performed a forced landing to a cornfield. During the landing, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The inspector noted that the there was a faint smell of automotive gasoline, and that airplane was equipped with a Honda Civic engine. His examination was limited due to the disposition of the wreckage. Subsequent examination of the wreckage by a recovery crew revealed that both fuel tanks were absent of fuel and there was no evidence of a fuel leak in the field. When asked how much fuel was onboard when the airplane the pilot stated that he had flown earlier in the day uneventfully and “started with about 35 gallons.” He also stated that when the engine lost power, the fuel gauges indicated that about 8 to 10 gallons of fuel remained. When asked specifically how much fuel was onboard the airplane when it was delivered, and how much (if any) was added to it, the pilot responded that he did not know. The previous owner stated that the airplane was delivered with approximately 3 gallons in the right-wing fuel tank and 10 gallons in the left-wing fuel tank. The engine was retained for further examination. The propeller was rotated by hand and continuity was confirmed through the reduction gear to the rear accessory section. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions were observed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N327WC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N327WC-2024-02-24), registration cancelled 2024-02-24, S/N 24483, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV6 (A) - Registry model: [Rosenzweig Charles J RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/rosenzweig-charles-j-rv-6a) (registry code 05605MS) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 24483 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 136 - Engines: Honda R18 1.8L 141 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 3, 2023 - Departed: I73, Moraine, OH - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review April 15, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 407 total, 112 in this make and model, 291 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: RID, 10 nm away - METAR: KRID 260055Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 09/00 A3011 ## 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 20230425014419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230425014419A), Apr 25, 2023: Rosenzweig Charles J RV-6A, Eaton, OH, Destroyed. Investigated an aircraft accident in Eaton oh. That occurred on April 25,2023. The aircraft was upside down in a farm field with the canopy and cowling… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107146. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15803898&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memoranda for the record (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15804038&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFRs-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 261 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15802959&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-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.