# NTSB FTW94LA303: Harris Dragonfly, N345DH, Woodville, TX, September 18, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 18, 1994, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Woodville, TX
- Coordinates: 30.769767, -94.420356 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7698&lon=-94.4204&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19164
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA303
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19164/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA303

## Probable cause

WAS FUEL STARVATION. FACTORS WERE THE JAMMED FLOAT IN THE FUEL SIGHT GAGE AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - fuel system,fuel quantity float/sensor - jammed (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,transfer pump - switched off
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

A MAINTENANCE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED TO CHECK THE ENGINE, CARBURETOR, AND A NEW HEADER TANK FUEL SIGHT GAUGE. THE FUEL FLOAT INDICATED THE HEADER TANK WAS FULL; THE FUEL TRANSFER PUMP WAS TURNED OFF TO CHECK THE MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL FLOAT.  THE ENGINE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART.  A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE INTO TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE SIGHT GAGE REVEALED THAT THE FLOAT WAS JAMMED IN THE FULL POSITION.

## Factual narrative

On September 18, 1994, at 1130 central daylight time, a Harris Dragonfly homebuilt, N345DH, was destroyed during a forced landing near Woodville, Texas.  The private pilot/owner/operator sustained serious injuries.  The local personal flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions.

The following information was obtained from the pilot/operator report.  The pilot was on a maintenance flight to check the engine, carburetor, and a new header tank fuel sight gauge.  The fuel float in the sight gage indicated the header tank was full; the pilot then shut off the fuel transfer pump to watch for float movement.  The engine stopped; the transfer pump was turned back on, but the engine would not restart.  Altitude was insufficient to reach clear ground so a landing was made in a wooded area.  The airplane came to rest approximately 60 feet above the ground in a tree.  Examination of the fuel system by the pilot revealed that the fuel float in the header tank fuel sight gage was jammed in the full position.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N345DH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N345DH-1997-01-21), registration cancelled 1997-01-21, S/N 656 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HARRIS DRAGONFLY
- Registry model: [Harris James Harold DRAGONFLY](https://openairdocs.org/model/harris-james-harold-dragonfly) (registry code 05644SU) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Ultralight, amateur-built
- Serial number: 656
- Airframe hours: 84
- Engines: Mosler 82DX 82 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Harris, James H
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 19, 1994, 5 hours before
- Destination: TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 1,927 total, 84 in this make and model, 1,927 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F

## 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 19940918028309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940918028309A), Sep 18, 1994: Amtr DRAGONFLY, Woodville, TX, Destroyed. Maintenance test flight. Fuel transfer pump shut off to check float. No restart. No fuel. Crashed. Float showed full

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.

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