# NTSB LAX05LA267: Barnes Lancair Legacy, N508DB, Groveland, CA, August 14, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 14, 2005, 07:40 local (14:40 UTC) - Place: Groveland, CA - Coordinates: 37.849422, -120.00975 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8494&lon=-120.0097&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 62243 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05LA267 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62243/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA267 ## Probable cause The inaccurate fuel quantity sensors and the pilot's failure to verify the fuel quantity on board prior to takeoff, 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, cruise - fuel supply - not verified, pilot in command (cause) - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - out of calibration (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - open field - object - fence ## Analysis Following fuel exhaustion in cruise flight, the pilot made a forced landing in an open field. The pilot elected to land with the landing gear retracted. The airplane was substantially damaged as it slid to a stop and hit a fence. The pilot said that prior to takeoff he believed he had 18 gallons of fuel onboard for the trip that he calculated would require 8 gallons. Upon his examination of the airplane the pilot noted that the fuel quantity sensors were improperly calibrated. The pilot reported that he did not experience any malfunction or failure with his airplane. ## Factual narrative On August 14, 2005, about 0740 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Barnes Lancair Legacy, N508DB, experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight and the pilot made a forced landing in an open field about 6 miles west of the Pine Mountain Lake (uncontrolled) Airport, Groveland, California. The pilot elected to land with the landing gear retracted. The airplane was substantially damaged as it slid to a stop and impacted a fence. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from San Jose, California, about 0715. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he believed he had taken off with 18 gallons of fuel on board as indicated by the fuel gauges. He estimated that the required fuel for his planned flight was between 8 and 9 gallons, but he had experienced fuel exhaustion while en route. He subsequently reported that upon his examination of the airplane he noted the fuel sensors were improperly calibrated. The pilot reported that he did not experience any malfunction or failure with his airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N508DB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N508DB), registered now, S/N L2K-198, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Barnes Lancair Legacy - Registry model: [Barnes Don LANCAIR LEGACY](https://openairdocs.org/model/barnes-don-lancair-legacy) (registry code 056175M) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550-N](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-n) (registry code 17215, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: L2K-198 - Airframe hours: 110 - Engines: Continental IO-550 370 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald H. Barnes - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 1, 2005, 2 hours before - Departed: RHV, San Jose, CA - Destination: E45, Groveland, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 722 total, 130 in this make and model, 529 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 6 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: MCE, 35 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 20050814017839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050814017839A), Aug 14, 2005: Amtr LANCAIRLEGAY, Groveland, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft was on a flight from krhv to E45 under VFR and the pilot (sole occupant) had started a descent for landing. Approximately 6 miles from 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.