# NTSB GAA19CA034: Just Just Aircraft (Highl, N488VG, Monroe, WA, October 12, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 12, 2018, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Monroe, WA - Coordinates: 47.825, -122.018608 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8250&lon=-122.0186&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 5, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98535 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98535/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98535 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA034 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper engine modification and operation, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, and the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate approach path, which resulted in the airplane landing short of the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Thiel George A JUST AIRCRAFT (HIGHL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05632MA), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Maintenance: modification/alteration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thiel George A JUST AIRCRAFT (HIGHL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030/cases.md?model=05632MA), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thiel George A JUST AIRCRAFT (HIGHL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05632MA), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Thiel George A JUST AIRCRAFT (HIGHL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05632MA), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Thiel George A JUST AIRCRAFT (HIGHL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=05632MA), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Thiel George A JUST AIRCRAFT (HIGHL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05632MA), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Thiel George A JUST AIRCRAFT (HIGHL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05632MA), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Thiel George A JUST AIRCRAFT (HIGHL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=05632MA), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped, experimental, amateur-built airplane, who was also an airframe and powerplant mechanic, reported that, during approach to a sandbar, he side-slipped the airplane and that the engine then lost power because he was "too aggressive with the throttle and pulled it enough to bend the [carburetor] idle stop screw bracket." The engine was normally quiet, the airplane was sound proofed, and the pilot also used a noise-cancelling headset, which prevented him from being aware of the power loss until he attempted to add power to no avail. He did not have enough time to restart the engine, so the airplane settled onto the water about 15 to 20 ft short of the sandbar. Subsequently, the airplane hydroplaned and then came to rest on the sandbar inverted. The pilot reported that the reason he was aggressive with the throttle was because of a lean mixture that tended to overheat the engine during takeoff or cruise on hot days. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut, left wing, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the pilot had modified the number and position of the last hole in the fuel spray bar. By doing so, the pilot was able to get the engine to "barely run" to perform short-field landings. During the accident landing, it "must have cut off the flow of fuel enough to make the engine quit." That pilot reported that he had previously attempted to mechanically enrich the mixture by drilling holes in the fuel spray bar but had drilled a hole "at the location where the engine wanted to idle," meaning that, if the hole was open, the engine would idle high, and if the hole was closed, the engine would "die." He added that it was not a problem unless he was trying to land short. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped, experimental amateur built airplane, who was also an airframe and powerplant mechanic reported that, during approach to a sandbar, he side-slipped the airplane and the engine lost power because he was "too aggressive with the throttle and pulled it enough to bend the [carburetor] idle stop screw bracket." Because the engine was normally quiet, the airplane was sound proofed, and he used a noise-cancelling headset, he was unaware of the power loss until he attempted to add power, to no avail. He did not have enough time to restart the engine, so the airplane settled onto the water about 15 to 20 ft short of the sandbar. Subsequently, the airplane hydroplaned and came to rest on the sandbar inverted. The pilot reported that the reason he was aggressive with the throttle was because of a lean mixture that tended to overheat the engine during takeoff or cruise on hot days. Previously, he had attempted to mechanically enrichen the mixture by drilling holes in the fuel spray bar, but had drilled a hole "at the location where the engine wanted to idle", meaning that if the hole was open, the engine would idle high and if the hole was closed, the engine would "die." He added that it was not a problem unless he was trying to land short. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut, left wing, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the pilot had modified the number and position of the last hole in the fuel spray bar. By doing so, the pilot was able to get the engine to "barely run" to perform short field landings. During the accident landing, it "must have cut off the flow of fuel enough to make the engine quit." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N488VG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N488VG-2022-06-09), registration cancelled 2022-06-09, S/N JA214-08-10, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Just JUST AIRCRAFT (HIGHL (No Series) - Registry model: [Thiel George A JUST AIRCRAFT (HIGHL](https://openairdocs.org/model/thiel-george-a-just-aircraft-highl) (registry code 05632MA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300a) (registry code 34804, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JA214-08-10 - Year built: 2010 - Airframe hours: 975 - Engines: Jabiru 3300 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 3, 2018 - Departed: S50, Auburn, WA - Destination: Monroe, WA - Equipment: Onboard weather, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review July 20, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,000 total, 974 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KPAE, 12 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 20181012019859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181012019859A), Oct 12, 2018: Thiel George A JUST AIRCRAFT (HIGHL, Monroe, WA, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted]Pilot was landing on a gravel/sand bar in the skykomish river in order to go fishing. He performed a normal approach to the landing area,… ## Other investigations on N488VG (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR21LA351](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA351), Sep 21, 2021: George A. Thiel Just Aircraft Highlander (N488VG), Monroe, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight malfunction of the throttle control pivot arm, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and the subsequent collision with terrain during the forced landing. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 21, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98535. 6.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471277&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471278&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 4 photos, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471279&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.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.