# NTSB FTW03LA077: Carlisle Comp Air 6, N628, Groesbeck, TX, January 8, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 8, 2003, 09:20 local (15:20 UTC) - Place: Groesbeck, TX - Coordinates: 31.639722, -96.514724 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6397&lon=-96.5147&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56300 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56300/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56300 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA077 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel selector position which resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. A contributing factor was the soft terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fuel system - starvation (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis Prior to departure, the airplane's fuel tanks were filled with 53 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel. In cruise flight at 3,000 feet mean sea level (msl), the engine lost total power. At the time the engine lost power, the pilot stated that the right main fuel tank selector switch was ON. The pilot then switched ON the fuel selector to the left main tank, turned ON the fuel boost pump, and attempted to restart the engine; however, the restart was unsuccessful. The pilot then executed a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the engine momentarily regained power, and the pilot overshot his intended landing area in the field. Subsequently, the airplane contacted soft terrain, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The fuel system was comprised of left and right main fuel tank and a header tank. The left and right main fuel tanks drained into the header tank, and the header tank was connected to the engine. The pilot had the option to open and/or close the fuel valves for the left main, right main, and header fuel tanks. ## Factual narrative On January 8, 2003, approximately 0920 central standard time, a Carlisle Comp Air 6 single engine experimental airplane, N628, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field following a loss of engine power during cruise flight near Groesbeck, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered and operated by the pilot, who was also the builder of the airplane. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed the Easterwood Field Airport (CLL), College Station, Texas, at 0840, and was destined for the Denton Municipal Airport (DTO), Denton, Texas. The pilot reported to an FAA inspector that prior to the airplane's departure from CLL, the airplane's fuel tanks were filled with 53 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel. In cruise flight at 3,000 feet mean sea level (msl), the engine lost power. At the time the engine lost power, the pilot stated that the right main fuel tank selector switch was ON. The pilot then switched the fuel selector to the left main tank, turned ON the fuel boost pump, and attempted to restart the engine; however, the restart was unsuccessful. The pilot then executed a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the engine momentarily regained power, and the pilot overshot his intended touchdown zone in the field. Subsequently, the airplane contacted soft terrain, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The Carlisle Comp Air 6 fuel system was comprised of left and right main fuel tank and a header tank. The left and right main fuel tanks drained into the header tank, and the header tank was connected to the engine. The pilot had the option to open and/or close the fuel valves for the left main, right main, and header fuel tanks. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented) section, the pilot reported the following: "Addition of a header tank low level alarm". A representative from airplane kit manufacturer reported that an optional header tank low level annuciator light and aural alarm system was available. According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, both wing spars were bent. The inspector also noted that fuel was leaking from the fuel vents. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N628](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N628), registered now, S/N 006247 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Carlisle Comp Air 6 - Registry model: [Carlisle John W COMPAIR 6](https://openairdocs.org/model/carlisle-john-w-compair-6) (registry code 05611P5) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 006247 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John W. Carlisle - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: CLL, College Station, TX - Destination: DTO, Denton, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 15, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 849 total, 110 in this make and model, 771 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg ## 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 20030108036849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030108036849A), Jan 8, 2003: Amtr COMPAIR6, Groesbeck, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Engine power loss required off airport landing. Momentary power recovery during approach caused overshoot to beginning of pasture which resulted in… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56300. 636 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 366 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438428&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Report (item 2, .PDF, 270 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438429&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Report-Redacted.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.