- Date
- June 3, 1992, 11:31 local (18:31 UTC)
- Place
- Valencia, CA
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N555HVWayne K. Giles Glasair Garg
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920603018249A
- Case key
- 27637
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power because of an undetermined interruption in the flow of fuel to the engine. Factors which contributed to the power loss were related to fuel line or fitting leaks and to inadequate maintenance of the fuel system.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while cruising in the experimental airplane he smelled the strong odor of fuel fumes in the cockpit. When he switched fuel tanks to abate [the] fumes all engine power was suddenly lost. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot indicated he began concentrating on making a forced landing. On final approach to a parking lot, the airplane collided with unobserved power lines and nosed over. An examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions within the engine. Fuel was found in the lines between the engine driven fuel pump and fuel servo, and in the manifold assembly. Evidence was also found of preimpact fuel leaks (seeping and staining) near fuel lines and fittings in airframe structure aft of the firewall. The last annual inspection was accomplished by the airplane's previous owner.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N555HV
- Reported as
- Wayne K. Giles Glasair Garg (GLASAIR GA)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- G570
- Airframe hours
- 125
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-B1E, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Harold J. Ballatin
- Registered owner
- Delores & Gary Rawley
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 15, 1991 · 22 hours before
- Departed
- TOA · Torrance, CA
- Destination
- PTV · Porterville, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 62
- Certificates
- Flight engineer, Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 24,000 total · 10 in this make and model · 22,000 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 1 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.