# NTSB ERA24LA225: Nickle C R Acro II, N86RL, Milford, NJ, May 20, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 20, 2024, 16:23 local (20:23 UTC) - Place: Milford, NJ - Coordinates: 40.59154, -75.124274 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5915&lon=-75.1243&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): 194302 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA225 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194302/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194302 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA225 ## Probable cause The pilot’s lack of familiarity with the airplane’s fuel system, 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. - [Knowledge: knowledge of equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Nickle C R ACRO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md?model=05646BR), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Nickle C R ACRO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05646BR), [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: [Nickle C R ACRO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05646BR), [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: [Nickle C R ACRO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05646BR), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Nickle C R ACRO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05646BR), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental amateur-built biplane stated that he had just purchased the airplane and intended to fly it to his home airport. Prior to the flight he asked the previous owner questions about the fuel indicator tube (a sight gauge indicating the fuel quantity) and noted that it had no markings. He subsequently departed for the planned the 2 hour and 12-minute flight with fuel tank completely filled with 26 gallons of fuel and assumed an 8 gallon per hour fuel consumption rate. About 1 hour and 15 minutes into the flight, the fuel sight gauge began showing a reduced fuel level in the tank, and indicated what the pilot though was 7/8 of a tank of fuel remaining. After flying 20 more minutes the fuel gauge indicated 1/2 tank of fuel, and after 15 more minutes of flying the fuel gauge was getting close to empty. He flew another 15 minutes and was about 10 minutes from his destination airport when the engine lost all power. He immediately looked for a place to make an emergency landing. He lined up on a field and landed smoothly. During the landing rollout, tall grass wrapped around the main landing gear and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the biplane’s top wing and the vertical stabilizer. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane and that the airplane ran out of fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N86RL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N86RL), registered now, S/N 459 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NICKLE C R ACRO II - Registry model: [Nickle C R ACRO II](https://openairdocs.org/model/nickle-c-r-acro-ii) (registry code 05646BR) (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: 459 - Year built: 1987 - Airframe hours: 772 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2023 - Departed: PYM, Plymouth, MA - Destination: WV22, Hedgesvile, WV - Airport: NA - Equipment: Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 20, 2023; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,866 total, 12 in this make and model, 1,866 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: ABE, 14 nm away ## 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 20240520006939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240520006939A), May 20, 2024: Nickle C R ACRO II, Holland Townshi, NJ, Substantial damage. Aircraft ran out of fuel and nosed over during rollout after performing an engine out landing in a field. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194302. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17237959&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17237620&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20record-pilot-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17237104&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-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.