# NTSB FTW02LA225: Southworth EAA Bi-Plane May Bee, N11S, West, TX, August 3, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 2002, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: West, TX - Coordinates: 31.775554, -97.132225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7756&lon=-97.1322&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 6, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration (FSDO) - NTSB case key (mKey): 55393 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA225 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55393/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA225 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight/planning inspection which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Loss of control - in flight, emergency descent/landing - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis The pilot purchased the single-place airplane on the day of the accident and was briefed by the previous owner that the airplane burned 8-10 gallons of fuel per hour. The main fuel tank (16 gallons) was topped off and the pilot elected to not fill the auxiliary fuel tank (8 gallons), in order to remain within the airplane's weight and balance limitations. The pilot spent approximately 5-10 minutes taxiing the airplane and performing the pre-takeoff engine run-up. At 1620, the flight departed for a 64 nautical mile flight, and arrived at 1710. The pilot intended on landing at the municipal airport; however, upon landing, the pilot realized that he had landed at an abandoned airstrip used by agricultural operators, located 2 miles southwest of the municipal airport. There were no fuel services available at the airstrip, and the pilot noted that the airplane's fuel gauge indicated 8 gallons. The pilot elected to depart and fly to another airport 27 miles south to re-fuel, rather than traveling back north to the municipal airport. The pilot estimated that the he was on the ground approximately 5-10 minutes prior to departing. The flight departed and 15 minutes later, when the airplane was in cruise flight at 2,500 feet, the engine began sputtering and then lost power. The fuel gauge indicated that 1/2 tank of fuel remained at the time the engine lost power. The pilot noted a high sink rate and lowered the nose, while simultaneously banking to the right to avoid obstructions. Subsequently, the airplane entered a spin to the right before impacting a grass field. The fuel system was compromised during the accident. The fuel system contained only residual fuel and there was no evidence of fuel at the accident site. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 2002, at 1730 central daylight time, a Southworth EAA Bi-Plane May Bee, N11S, single-engine amateur-built airplane, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an uncontrolled descent near West, Texas. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from an abandoned airstrip, Hillsboro, Texas, approximately 1710, and was destined for the Waco Regional Airport, Waco, Texas. According to the pilot, he purchased the single-place airplane in Justin, Texas, on the day of the accident. Prior to departing the Clark Airport in Justin, the pilot was briefed by the previous owner on the airplane's handling/performance characteristics, noting that the airplane burned 8-10 gallons of fuel per hour. The main fuel tank (16 gallons) was topped off and the pilot elected to not fill the auxiliary fuel tank (8 gallons), in order to remain within the airplane's weight and balance limitations. The pilot spent approximately 5-10 minutes taxiing the airplane and performing the pre-takeoff engine run-up. The airplane departed from Justin, for the 64 nautical mile flight to Hillsboro, at 1620 and arrived at 1710. The pilot intended on landing at the Hillsboro Municipal Airport (5T5); however, upon landing, the pilot realized that he had landed at an abandoned airstrip used by agricultural operators, which is located 2 miles southwest of 5T5. There was no fuel service available at the airstrip, and the pilot noted that the airplane's fuel gauge indicated 8 gallons. The pilot stated that "this seemed consistent with the fuel burn rate I had expected," and he decided to continue on to the Waco Regional Airport (27 miles south of Hillsboro) to re-fuel, rather than going back north to 5T5. The pilot estimated that he was on the ground approximately 5-10 minutes in Hillsboro, prior to departing for Waco. The flight departed and 15 minutes later, with the airplane in cruise flight at 2,500 feet, the engine began sputtering and then lost power. The fuel gauge indicated that 1/2 tank of fuel remained at the time the engine lost power. The pilot noted a high sink rate and lowered the nose, while simultaneously banking to the right to avoid obstructions. Subsequently, the airplane entered a spin to the right before impacting a grass field. An FAA inspector, who examined the airplane, reported that the wooden right wing's top and bottom spars were damaged, and the left wing sustained structural damage. Additionally, the engine firewall was displaced aft toward the cockpit. The fuel system was compromised during the accident. The fuel system contained only residual fuel and there was no evidence of fuel at the accident site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11S-2005-11-21), registration cancelled 2005-11-21, S/N JS-1, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Southworth EAA Bi-Plane May Bee - Registry model: [Southworth Eaa Bi-Plane MAY BEE](https://openairdocs.org/model/southworth-eaa-bi-plane-may-bee) (registry code 33601U3) (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: JS-1 - Airframe hours: 599 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jerry D. Pockrus - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 15, 2002, 3 hours before - Departed: NONE, Hillsboro, TX - Destination: ACT, Waco, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 2, 2002; seat: center; flight hours: 928 total, 1 in this make and model, 803 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: ACT, 13 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 20020803023589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020803023589A), Aug 3, 2002: Amtr EAABIPLANE*, West, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On 08/03/02 at approximately 1745 while enroute from clark field, north of justin, Texas to waco regional airport (act) experimental aircraft southworth… 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.