# NTSB LAX00LA257: Interavia E-3, N4426X, Watsonville, CA, July 9, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 9, 2000, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Watsonville, CA - Coordinates: 36.916667, -121.833335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9167&lon=-121.8333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 49657 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA257 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49657/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA257 ## Probable cause the total loss of engine power due to the pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable ## Analysis The private pilot was flying his experimental single engine airplane after performing maintenance, when the engine lost power after 40 minutes of operation. According to the pilot's written statement, he "checked and measured" the gas in the fuel tanks after performing maintenance on the airplane. He calculated that he had 20 gallons of fuel on board, or 40 minutes of endurance at 100 percent power or 1 hour of endurance at 70 percent power. He started the engine at 1450 and departed at 1500. He reported that he set the power at 70 percent for the flight. The engine quit as the pilot was turning back toward the airport. He checked the fuel gauges and reported that they indicated 5 gallons in each fuel tank. He pumped the fuel pump and the engine started, ran for approximately 30 seconds, and lost power again. The pilot reported that he could not restart the engine. He elected to land in a cow pasture on the side of mountainous terrain. While attempting to land over a fence and trees, the left wing touched down, slewing the plane off course. The left main landing gear separated from the left wing and the wing sustained structural damage. In his statement, the pilot noted that he should have operated the airplane by fuel time, not the gauges. ## Factual narrative On July 9, 2000, at 1530 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Interavia E-3 single engine airplane, N4426X, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after losing engine power while maneuvering near Watsonville, California. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a personal flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated from the Watsonville Municipal Airport approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted by the pilot, he "checked and measured" the gas in the fuel tanks after performing maintenance on the airplane. He calculated that he had 20 gallons of fuel on board, or 40 minutes of endurance at 100 percent power or 1 hour of endurance at 70 percent power. He started the engine at 1450 and departed at 1500. He reported that he set the power at 70 percent for the flight. While he was "making a long sweeping turn back to the airport at 1530, [the] engine quit." The pilot checked the fuel gauges and reported that they indicated 5 gallons in each fuel tank. He pumped the fuel pump and the engine started, ran for approximately 30 seconds, and lost power again. The pilot reported that he could not restart the engine. He elected to land in a cow pasture on the side of mountainous terrain. While attempting to land over a fence and trees, the "left wing stalled and touched down, slewing the plane off course." The left main landing gear separated from the left wing and the wing sustained structural damage. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, under the section titled, "Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented)," the pilot wrote, "operate by fuel time, not gauges." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4426X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4426X-2008-12-18), registration cancelled 2008-12-18, S/N 02-06, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Interavia E-3 - Registry model: [Interavia E-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/interavia-e-3) (registry code 05603M7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 02-06 - Airframe hours: 56 - Engines: unknown M14P 360 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles G. Feemster - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2000, 8 hours before - Departed: KWVI, WATSONVILLE, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 11, 2000; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,224 total, 1,129 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: WVI ## 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 20000709010559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000709010559A), Jul 9, 2000: Watsonville, CA, No damage. (-23) On July 9, 2000, at 1530 hours pacific daylight time, an experimental interavia E-3, N4426X, made a forced landing after losing engine power while… ## Other investigations on N4426X (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 LAX07LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07LA047), Nov 25, 2006: Interavia E-3 (N4426X), San Pedro, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Loss of control for undetermined reasons. 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.