# NTSB GAA19CA181: Air Creation Tanarg, N912TJ, Kailua-Kona, HI, March 20, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 20, 2019, 10:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Kailua-Kona, HI - Coordinates: 19.808055, -155.998336 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=19.8081&lon=-155.9983&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99184 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA181 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99184/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99184 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA181 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## 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: [Air Creation TANARG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05902AG), [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: [Air Creation TANARG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=05902AG), [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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Air Creation TANARG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05902AG), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Air Creation TANARG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=05902AG), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Creation TANARG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05902AG), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Air Creation TANARG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05902AG), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Air Creation TANARG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05902AG), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Creation TANARG, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05902AG), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the weight-shift-control aircraft reported that he departed with 6 gallons of fuel onboard the airplane and that he estimated that the fuel burn was 3 gallons per hour. He added that, during the flight, he performed multiple climbs and descents, and he believed the aircraft burned more fuel than usual. He added that, about 1 hour 15 minutes into the flight, the engine lost power. He restarted the engine momentarily, but it then lost power again. He attempted to restart the engine multiple times to no avail. During the forced landing, he attempted to land the aircraft on a field, but it impacted terrain about 15 yards short of the intended landing site. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot added that, after visiting the hospital, he went back to look at the aircraft and did not see any fuel in the fuel tank. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the weight-shift control aircraft reported that he departed with 6 gallons of fuel and the estimated fuel burn was 3 gallons per hour. He added that, during the flight they performed multiple climbs and descents and he believed the aircraft burned more fuel than usual. He added that, about 1 hour and 15 minutes into the flight, the engine lost power. He restarted the engine momentarily, but then lost power again. He attempted to restart multiple times again, to no avail. During the forced landing, he attempted to land on a soccer field, but the aircraft impacted terrain about 15 yards short of the intended landing site. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot added that, after visiting the hospital, he went back to look at the aircraft and did not observe any fuel in the fuel tank. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the weight-shift control aircraft that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N912TJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N912TJ-2021-07-03), registration cancelled 2021-07-03, S/N T06113, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR CREATION TANARG - Registry model: [Air Creation TANARG](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-creation-tanarg) (registry code 05902AG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: T06113 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 818 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 21, 2018 - Departed: KOA, Kailua/Kona, HI - Destination: KOA, Kailua/Kona, HI - Equipment: Video recording device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: minor; sport pilot, flight instructor; medical: sport pilot; last flight review March 16, 2018; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 533 total, 420 in this make and model, 475 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: PHKO, 5 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 20190320022829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190320022829A), Mar 20, 2019: Air Creation TANARG, Kukio, HI, Substantial damage. At approximately 0949, engine stopped and aircraft began descent. Pilot attempted to land on soccer field but crashed 20 yards short of field. Fuel tank was… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 10, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99184. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471816&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471817&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 604 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471818&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.