# NTSB MIA00LA173: Rawdon T1, N2706D, North Miami Bch, FL, May 27, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 27, 2000, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: North Miami Bch, FL - Coordinates: 25.929607, -80.140617 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9296&lon=-80.1406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49305 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA173 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49305/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA173 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to change the fuel selector position after experiencing surging of the engine. Contributing to the accident was the partial loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and the incorrect reading of the left fuel gauge. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - incorrect (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor) - fuel tank selector position - not corrected, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis During cruise flight, the engine began surging. The pilot reportedly turned on both auxiliary fuel pumps and both selector valves, dropped the banner, and made a precautionary landing in an open field. During the landing roll he maneuvered the airplane to avoid pedestrians and the left wing collided with a tree. Postaccident examination of the airplane indicated the left tank was empty and the right tank contained approximately 9 gallons; the left fuel quantity indicator was not indicating empty. Postaccident, the engine was started and operated normally; no discrepancies were noted. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 2000, about 1145 eastern daylight time, a Rawdon T1, N2706D, registered to and operated by Aerial Sign Company, Inc., experienced a loss of engine power and collided with trees during a forced landing in a state park near North Miami Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 banner towing flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 1015, from the North Perry Airport, Hollywood, Florida. The pilot stated that during the flight, the engine began surging. He turned on both auxiliary fuel pumps and tanks, dropped the banner, and made a precautionary landing in an open field. During the landing roll he maneuvered the airplane to avoid pedestrians and the left wing collided with a tree damaging three ribs. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed approximately 9 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank, no fuel in the left fuel tank, and both fuel tank selector valves on. Following repairs to the left wing of the airplane (no work was performed to the engine), the engine was started and operated to full static rpm; no discrepancies were noted. Additionally, the left fuel gauge was not indicating empty with an empty fuel tank; it was indicating near midpoint of the "no takeoff" arc, which is positioned between empty and just below 1/4 indication. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2706D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2706D-2012-10-18), registration cancelled 2012-10-18, S/N T1-26, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rawdon T1 - Registry model: [Rawdon T1](https://openairdocs.org/model/rawdon-t1) (registry code 7500102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T1-26 - Airframe hours: 4412 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Aerial Sign Company, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 2000, 2 hours before - Departed: HWO, HOLLYWOOD, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 23,000 total, 30 in this make and model, 18,000 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MIA ## 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 20000527007549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000527007549A), May 27, 2000: Rawdon T1, North Miami, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 27, 2000, at 1545Z (11:45 local) a rowdon T-1, N2706D departed north perry airport to conduct aerial banner tow. After approximately one hour of… ## Other investigations on N2706D (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 MIA05FA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05FA020), Nov 2, 2004: Rawdon Bros. T1 (N2706D), Pembroke Pines, FL, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Improper maintenance by company maintenance personnel, and the pilot-in-command's operating the airplane with known deficiencies, which resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel system… 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.