# NTSB FTW00LA271: Temco Luscombe 11A, N1689B, Hammond, LA, September 30, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 30, 2000, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Hammond, LA - Coordinates: 30.530765, -90.460952 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5308&lon=-90.4610&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 10, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 51144 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA271 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51144/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA271 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper fuel consumption calculations, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A contributory factor was the fuel cap leak, due to a worn seal. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, go-around (vfr) - fuel consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel system,cap - leak (contributing factor) - miscellaneous,seal/boot/gasket - worn (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot topped off the airplane's fuel tanks (total capacity of 40.0 gallons) and departed on a cross-country flight. The first leg of the flight was 1 hour 34 minutes in duration, and upon arrival at the refueling airport, he added 33.3 gallons of fuel to top off the fuel tanks. While on the ground, he miscalculated the actual fuel consumption rate for the flight and did not know that the fuel consumption rate had been excessive. The pilot then departed for the destination airport. He was on final approach and executed a go-around when a landing airplane failed to clear the runway with enough time for him to make a safe landing. The airplane was climbing through 300 feet agl when the engine lost total power. Subsequently, a forced landing was executed, during which the airplane impacted trees and terrain. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing fuel tank's filler cap was in good condition and there were no stains around the fuel cap. A fuel stain was observed around the left wing fuel tank's filler cap that was 12 inches long and fanned out from the width of the cap to 8 inches wide. The cap was removed by a mechanic and when the cap was replaced the mechanic noted that 'it didn't fit very tight as it should.' A fuel stain was observed on the left side of the vertical fin approximately 2 inches wide and 14 inches high. Additionally, 8 ounces of fuel was drained from the fuel system. ## Factual narrative On September 30, 2000, at 1630 central daylight time, a Temco Luscombe 11A airplane, N1689B, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Hammond, Louisiana. The private pilot, who was the registered owner and sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Grayson County Airport, Sherman, Texas, at 1415, and was destined for the Hammond Municipal Airport, Hammond, Louisiana, after an intermediate fuel stop at the Panola County-Sharpe Field, near Carthage, Texas. According to the pilot, he topped off both wing fuel tanks (total fuel capacity of 40.0 gallons) and departed from Sherman. He flew 1 hour 34 minutes and landed at Carthage to refuel. He added 33.3 gallons of fuel to top off the fuel tanks and calculated his actual fuel consumption rate to be 15 gallons per hour; however, he had mistakenly used 23.0 gallons as the total fuel consumed instead of 33.3 gallons. He stated that although the "normal" fuel consumption rate is 10 gallons per hour he was not concerned "based on his climb profile and low [cruise] altitude." The flight departed Carthage and based on the pilot's preflight fuel calculations, he expected a fuel consumption rate of 10 gallons per hour. He reported that while on final approach to runway 31 at Hammond he was following a Cessna 152. The Cessna 152 did not clear the runway with enough time left to execute a safe landing and, therefore, the pilot initiated a go-around. While climbing through 300 feet agl, "the engine stopped producing power." During the ensuing forced landing, the airplane contacted trees and the ground coming to rest upright. The pilot stated that, at the time the engine lost power, his GPS indicated that 2 hours and 7 minutes had elapsed since he had departed from Carthage. According to the FAA inspector, who examined the airplane at the accident site, the engine firewall was displaced and both wing spars were structurally damaged. A review of the airplane's airframe and powerplant maintenance logbooks did not reveal any entries referencing the fuel system. An FAA certified airframe and powerplant mechanic examined the airplane. He reported that he drained a total of 8 ounces of fuel from the fuel system. The right wing fuel tank's filler cap was in "good" condition and there were no stains around the fuel cap. The left wing fuel tank's filler cap was examined. There was a "fuel stain around the fuel cap about 12 inches long that fanned out from the width of the cap to 8 inches wide." The cap was removed and replaced by the mechanic. When the cap was replaced, the mechanic noted that "it didn't fit very tight as it should." He also observed a "fuel stain on the left side of the vertical fin approximately 2 inches wide and 14 inches high." In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), in the section titled "Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented)," the pilot reported: "Properly ascertaining fuel consumed during the Sherman (F39) to Carthage (4F2) would have prevented me from flying onto Hammond (KHMU) until the source of the excessive fuel consumption was identified and corrected." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1689B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1689B-2017-10-27), registration cancelled 2017-10-27, S/N 11-195, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Temco Luscombe 11A - Registry model: [Temco Luscombe 11A](https://openairdocs.org/model/temco-luscombe-11a) (registry code 8890404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11-195 - Engines: Continental E-185 185 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tyler S. Guidice - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 9, 2000 - Departed: 4F2, CARTHAGE, TX - Destination: HMU, HAMMOND, LA - Airport: HMU, Hammond Municipal, runway 31, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 341 total, 152 in this make and model, 273 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MSY, 31 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 20000930015059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000930015059A), Sep 30, 2000: Temco 11A, Hammond, LA, No damage. (-23) Pilot initiated a go-around at rwy 31 at Hammond, LA. Dur to other traffic. At departure point of rwy, at approx. 300 feet, the power plant failed. A/c… 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.