# NTSB GAA19CA297: Quicksilver 2S Sport, Waverly, MN, May 31, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 30, 2019, 19:45 local (May 31, 2019, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Waverly, MN - Coordinates: 45, -94 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0000&lon=-94.0000&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99523 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA297 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99523/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99523 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA297 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent forced, hard landing in a field. ## 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: [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: [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [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: [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: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the unregistered airplane reported that he departed with 3 gallons of fuel and that he was flight testing the airplane by flying it low up and down a private, grass airstrip. He added that, about 1 hour 15 minutes hours into the flight, he "neglected to carefully check the fuel remaining" before taking off to conduct a teardrop maneuver. Once airborne, about 50 to 75 ft, he performed a climbing left turn and noticed the "engine was no longer producing power." He leveled the wings and pushed forward on the control stick. He began the landing flare for a forced landing in a field, and the airplane landed hard and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot recommended as a safety recommendation to "fill the fuel tank!" ## Factual narrative The pilot of the unregistered airplane reported that he departed with 3 gallons of fuel for a flight test by flying low up and down a private grass airstrip. He added that, about one hour and 15 minutes hours into the flight, he "neglected to carefully check the fuel remaining" before performing a takeoff into a teardrop maneuver. Once airborne, about 50 to 75 ft, he performed a climbing left turn and noticed the "engine was no longer producing power." He leveled the wings and pushed forward on the control stick. He began the landing flare for a forced landing in a soft corn field, and the airplane landed hard. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot recommended as a safety recommendation to "fill the fuel tank!" ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: QUICKSILVER 2S SPORT - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6794327 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 80 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: None - Last inspection: Unknown, May 29, 2019 - Departed: PVT, Waverly, MN - Destination: PVT, Waverly, MN - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review November 29, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 817 total, 3 in this make and model, 730 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg ## 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=99523. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473720&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 476 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473721&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.