# NTSB LAX08CA224: Piper PA-18A-150, N7471D, Camarillo, CA, July 10, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 10, 2008, 14:43 local (21:43 UTC) - Place: Camarillo, CA - Coordinates: 34.214443, -119.000556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2144&lon=-119.0006&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68426 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68426/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA224 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## 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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: 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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was descending on a 5-mile final approach for the runway when the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. He said that there were no abnormal indications on the engine gauges, and he believed he had exhausted all useable fuel in the two right wing fuel tanks. He immediately switched the fuel selector to the left wing tank. The engine did not regain power, so the pilot verified that the magneto switches were on. According to the pilot, there is no electric starter installed on the engine. The airplane continued to descend, and about 500 feet above the ground, the propeller stopped rotating. The pilot released the banner he was towing, and he made a forced landing in a rough field. The airplane nosed over during the landing rollout, and the left wing's structure was damaged. The pilot reported that the airplane was equipped with three fuel tanks, two in the right wing and one in the left wing. Each tank holds 18 gallons of fuel, for a total of 54 gallons that provides about a 6-hour endurance. During banner tow operations the fuel burn off rate is about 8 gallons per hour. All fuel tanks were filled to capacity prior to the pilot's 1040 takeoff. The airplane had been airborne about 4 hours when the loss of power occurred. ## Factual narrative In a written report, the pilot stated that he was in contact with the Camarillo Airport (CMA) air traffic control tower, descending on a 5-mile final approach for the runway, when the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. He stated that there were no "abnormal" indications on the engine gauges, and he believed he had exhausted all useable fuel in the two right wing fuel tanks. He immediately switched the fuel selector to the left wing tank. The engine did not regain power, so the pilot verified that the magneto switches were on. According to the pilot, there is no electric starter installed for the engine. The airplane continued to descend, and about 500 feet above the ground, the propeller stopped rotating. The pilot released the banner he was towing, and he made a forced landing in a rough field about 1442. The airplane nosed over during the landing rollout, and the left wing's structure was damaged. The pilot reported that the airplane was equipped with three fuel tanks, two in the right wing and one in the left wing. Each tank holds 18 gallons of fuel, for a total of 54 gallons. During banner tow operations the fuel burn off rate is about 8 gallons per hour. All fuel tanks were filled to capacity prior to the pilot's 1040 takeoff. At the nominal engine power setting the pilot indicated he typically uses, the airplane's endurance is about 6 hours. In the pilot's completed "Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident" report he wrote that the accident would have been prevented if he had switched to the left fuel tank before the right tanks ran out of fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: N7471D (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18A-150 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-5806 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Banner tow, Part 91 - Registered owner: Van Wagner Aerial Media - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 2008 - Departed: CMA, Camarillo, CA - Destination: CMA - Airport: CMA, Camarillo, runway 26, 6,013 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review May 1, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 1,909 total, 1,630 in this make and model, 1,770 as pilot in command, 324 in the last 90 days, 110 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20080710841869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080710841869A), Jul 10, 2008: Piper PA18, Camarillo, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Right fuel tank (36 gallons)was exhausted prior to switching to left tank (18 gallons). Pilot did not get engine running by switching tanks prior to… 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.