# NTSB LAX92LA176: Mcewen Dick Glasair III, N115DM, Casa Grande, AZ, April 10, 1992 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 10, 1992, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Casa Grande, AZ - Location: 32.8795° N, 111.7574° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Casa Grande, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8795&lon=-111.7574&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 26, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 27598 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27598/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA176 ## Probable cause A FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SELECT THE PROPER FUEL TANK AND SUBSEQUENT FUEL STARVATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN INADEQUATE DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT PERMITTED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO BE ROTATED 360 DEGREES, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - acft/equip,inadequate design, manufacturer (contributing factor) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS ON A PERSONAL CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT TO A NEARBY AIRPORT. ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, INCLUDING ROTATION OF THE FUEL SELECTOR HANDLE, FAILED TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND A FORCED LANDING AREA WAS SELECTED ON A RURAL DIRT ROAD. AS THE PILOT WAS PREPARING TO LAND, A SCHOOL BUS OCCUPIED THE LANDING ZONE, AND THE PILOT THEN SELECTED AN ADJACENT ROAD. DURING THE LANDING, THE LEFT WING STRUCK TREES LOCATED ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FAA PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, BUT PLACARDED AS THE MAIN TANK POSITION. THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN WING FUEL TANKS CONTAINED FUEL; HOWEVER A HEADER TANK WAS EMPTY. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT ON THE EVENING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED ON THE HEADER TANK, WHICH HAS A CAPACITY OF ABOUT 5 GALLONS. THE PILOT, WHO HAS ABOUT 10 HOURS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRPLANE, DID NOT REMEMBER WHAT FUEL TANK WAS SELECTED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A MANDATORY SERVICE BULLETIN REQUIRING A PLACARD DETAILING THE FUEL HANDLE POSITIONS, AND INSTALLATION OF MECHANICAL STOPS AND A MOVABLE GATE TO PRECLUDE INADVERTENT SELECTION OF THE OFF POSITION. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N115DM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N115DM-2007-06-04), registration cancelled 2007-06-04, S/N 3029, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MCEWEN DICK GLASAIR III (GLASAIR II) - Registry model: [Mcewen Dick GLASAIR III](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcewen-dick-glasair-iii) (registry code 056559M) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 3029 - Airframe hours: 127 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Rothweiler, Charles - Registered owner: Rothweiler, Charles - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1992, 7 hours before - Departed: P10, CHANDLER, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,200 total, 10 in this make and model, 2,200 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19920410010079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920410010079A), Apr 10, 1992: Amtr GLASAIR, Casa Grande, AZ, Substantial damage. Engine quit. Struck tree avoiding a bus while landing on a road. Selected emergency header fuel tank by mistake. ## Other investigations on N115DM (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 LAX92LA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA235), May 10, 1992: Mcquen Glassair III (N115DM), Casa Grande, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE PILOT'S MISREADING OF A NEWLY INSTALLED FUEL SELECTOR PANEL WITH PLACARDS AND A POSITION POINTER WHICH WERE CONFUSING. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE CONFUSING NATURE OF… 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.