# NTSB LAX00LA002: Zdybel Glasair FT, N711FZ, Rio Linda, CA, October 2, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 2, 1999, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Rio Linda, CA - Coordinates: 38.680896, -121.449661 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6809&lon=-121.4497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47519 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47519/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA002 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation due to the owner/builder's improper installation of the fuel selector valve, and, his failure to placard the operating positions of the valve handle. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - fuel system,selector/valve - loose (cause) - fuel system,selector/valve - other (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, owner/builder (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot had recently finished building the airplane, and it had accrued 16 hours of total time. The pilot said that at one time he had the fuel selector positions placarded but the placards fell off and he never bothered to replace them. While on an extended downwind for landing, the engine stopped running and he landed short of the runway, colliding with a ditch and nosing over. The pilot stated he had just finished switching fuel tank positions when the engine quit running. The engine was successfully run three times during the postaccident investigation. The pilot later said that he thought he had not had the fuel selector properly indexed during the accident flight. Postaccident examination of the fuel selector indicated that the shaft had an improper alignment, which induced excess play in the handle. ## Factual narrative On October 2, 1999, at 1145 hours Pacific daylight time, a Zdybel Glasair FT, N711FZ, lost engine power during descent for landing near Rio Linda, California. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the subsequent forced landing when it impacted a ditch and nosed over onto its back. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was owned and constructed by the pilot, and operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area personal flight to practice takeoffs and landings. The flight originated at Rio Linda airport at 1100. According to the pilot, the airplane was newly constructed and flights were restricted to the local area for 40 flight hours. The pilot stated he had 12 gallons of fuel in the left and right tank, respectively, and 8 gallons in the header tank. He estimated he took off about 1100, and planned to fly for approximately 1 hour. He had approximately 16 hours of total time in this airplane. He stated he was coming back into the pattern at an altitude of 800 feet, and setting up for his approach airspeed of 110 knots. He said that there were two other airplanes in the takeoff area so he elected to extend his downwind leg. He said the engine stopped running about 1 mile south of the field. He attempted to land on runway 35 but he landed short of the runway. The pilot told investigators that he had just selected another position on the fuel selector when the engine quit running. At the request of Safety Board investigators, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector conducted a postaccident examination of the airplane and the Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D engine. After securing the engine and connecting a fuel supply, the engine was started without incident and run briefly on three occasions. The inspector stated that upon further examination of the shaft assembly of the fuel selector, excess movement was found in the fuel selector handle. One end of the fuel selector shaft was out of alignment, which caused excess handle movement before the selector valve body moved. Additionally, the pilot told the inspector that he originally had the placards on the fuel selector but that they fell off and he never replaced them. The inspector stated that the pilot believed he might not have had the fuel selector in the correct position during the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N711FZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N711FZ-2003-04-22), registration cancelled 2003-04-22, S/N 799, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Zdybel GLASAIR FT - Registry model: [Zdybel Frank GLASAIR FT](https://openairdocs.org/model/zdybel-frank-glasair-ft) (registry code 05607TY) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 799 - Airframe hours: 16 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Frank Zdybel - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 30, 1999, 16 hours before - Departed: Q94 - Airport: Q94, Rio Linda Airport, runway 17, 2,620 × 42 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,388 total, 16 in this make and model, 4,388 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SMF, 2 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 19991002044099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991002044099A), Oct 2, 1999: Amtr GLASAIRFT, Rio Linda, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) At 1000 ft. altitude the engine stopped. The pilot stated that he had just selected another position on the fuel selector. Aircraft landed short of the… 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.