# NTSB GAA19CA070: Cessna T337, N1ZR, Homosassa, FL, November 8, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 8, 2018, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Homosassa, FL - Coordinates: 28.753334, -82.647224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7533&lon=-82.6472&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 10, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98666 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98666/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98666 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA070 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent total loss of power in both engines. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T337G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T337G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft servicing event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020); cases with it: [Cessna T337G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T337G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna T337G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna T337G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [Cessna T337G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna T337G, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, 2 days before the accident flight, the multiengine airplane's fuel tanks were filled (150 gallons). During the taxi to the runway, the right main tire blew. During recovery, the right side of the airplane was placed on a dolly to support the gear so that the airplane could be towed. The pilot reported that, due to the airplane’s fuel system design, when one side of the airplane was raised, all the fuel could be transferred to the opposite tank, which then forced the fuel to be released out of the air vent line. On the day of the accident, the pilot completed his preflight inspection and visually confirmed the fuel quantity by checking both fuel gauges, which were "green"; however, he did not verify the fuel onboard by checking the tanks. About 3 hours into the flight, the rear engine lost power. Before the pilot attempted to restart the rear engine and after he verified the correct engine to feather, the front engine also lost power. When the pilot realized the airplane would be unable to reach the nearest airport, he landed it in a grass marsh with the landing gear retracted. During the landing, the airplane’s wing hit grass and then veered right about 90°, which caused the left wing to dip and impact terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aileron and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. During his preflight inspection, the pilot should have verified the fuel quantity in the fuel tanks to ensure there was sufficient fuel onboard for the flight, and his failure to do so led to fuel exhaustion and the subsequent total loss of power in both engines. ## Factual narrative The solo, single engine rated pilot reported that, two days prior to the accident flight, the multi-engine airplane's fuel tanks were filled (123 gallons). During the taxi to the runway, the right main tire went flat. During recovery, the right main tire was placed on a dolly to move the airplane. The airplane fuel system was such that when one side of the airplane was raised, the fuel can transfer to the opposite tank which then forced fuel to be released out of the overflow vent. The day of the accident, the pilot completed his preflight and confirmed the fuel quantity visually by checking both fuel gauges "green". While en-route, after about three-hours into the flight and about 17 miles from starting the approach to the destination airport, the rear engine lost power. Before attempting a restart, after verifying the correct engine to feather, the front engine also lost power. Unable to make the nearest airport, the pilot landed the airplane in a grass marsh with the landing gear retracted. During the landing, the airplane veered right about 90°, and the left wing impacted the terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aileron and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1ZR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1ZR), registered now, S/N P3370275, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T337 (G) - Registry model: [Cessna T337G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t337g) (registry code 2075726) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P3370275 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 1879.8 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-NB16 reciprocating; Continental TSIO-520-NB16 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 21, 2018 - Departed: MEM, Memphis, TN - Destination: BKV, Brooksville, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 11, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,293 total, 51 in this make and model, 51 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KCGC, 8 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 20181108021599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181108021599A), Nov 8, 2018: Cessna T337G, Homosassa, FL, Substantial damage. On November 08, 2018, at 1130 EST a 1977 Cessna, model T337G, N1ZR that is registered to neubert aero corp, ran out of fuel. The pilot landed the aircraft in a… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98666. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471452&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Insurance Statement (item 2, .PDF, 9 photos, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471453&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Insurance%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 378 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471454&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-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.