# NTSB GAA19CA067: Jabiru J230-SP, N667J, Center, TX, November 18, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 18, 2018, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Center, TX
- Coordinates: 31.899999, -94.080001 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9000&lon=-94.0800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 98659
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98659/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98659
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA067

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper preflight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J230-SP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=060004V), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J230-SP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=060004V), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: understanding/comprehension](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J230-SP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515/cases.md?model=060004V), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515/cases.md)
- [Fuel system: fuel storage](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J230-SP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810/cases.md?model=060004V), [All aircraft, 60 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022810/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J230-SP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=060004V), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J230-SP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=060004V), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J230-SP, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=060004V), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J230-SP, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060004V), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J230-SP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=060004V), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, before departure, he noted that a NOTAM stated that fuel was not available at the airport where he had landed and had planned to refuel but that he felt he had sufficient fuel onboard to continue to another airport to get fuel if necessary. He assessed his fuel quantity and departed the airport, and subsequently, the engine lost power. He pitched the nose down, and the engine regained power, but the pilot realized that the fuel supply was almost exhausted. He attempted to maintain power and altitude but eventually chose to land in a field. He selected a touchdown point and circled to land, but the airplane did not complete the turn before he had to level the wings. The airplane touched down gently but overran the intended landing area, collided with a drainage culvert, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the composite fuselage and windscreen.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that prior to departure, he overlooked a NOTAM which identified that fuel was not available at the airport where he had landed and had planned to refuel. He assessed his fuel quantity and departed the airport, subsequently, the engine lost power. He pitched the nose down, the engine regained power, but the pilot realized that the fuel supply was all but exhausted. He attempted to maintain power and altitude, but eventually selected a field to land. He selected a touchdown point and circled to land, but the airplane did not complete the turn before he had to level the wings. The airplane touched down gently, but the airplane overran the intended landing area, collided with a drainage culvert, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the composite fuselage and the windscreen. The pilot determined that he had misinterpreted the manufacturer's pilot operating handbook's declaration of the airplane's total fuel capacity and the airplane's total useable fuel quantity.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N667J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N667J), registered now, S/N 574 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JABIRU J230-SP
- Registry model: [Jabiru USA Sport J230-SP](https://openairdocs.org/model/jabiru-usa-sport-j230-sp) (registry code 060004V) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34801, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 574
- Year built: 2008
- Airframe hours: 490
- Engines: Jabiru 3300A 120 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2018
- Departed: 3F3, Mansfield, LA
- Destination: F17, Center, TX
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 30, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 196 total, 149 in this make and model, 151 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observed at: F17

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20181118024659I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181118024659I), Nov 18, 2018: Jabiru USA Sport Aircraft LLC J230-SP, Center, TX, Minor damage. N667J was enroute from mansfield, la(3F3) to Center, TX (F17) when approximately 5 miles NE of F17 the engine lost power forcing the pilot to execute an…

## Other investigations on N667J (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 CEN13CA549](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA549), Sep 13, 2013: Jabiru USA Sport J230-SP (N667J), Conway, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to attain the proper landing approach speed and touchdown point, which resulted in a runway excursion after touchdown and collision with a blast fence.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98659. 4.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473686&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 174 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473687&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.

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