# NTSB MIA08LA101: Higher Class Sport Hornet, N104HC, Appling, GA, May 4, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 4, 2008, 14:40 local (18:40 UTC) - Place: Appling, GA - Coordinates: 33.669723, -82.236663 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6697&lon=-82.2367&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA / FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68026 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08LA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68026/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68026 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08LA101 ## Probable cause The interruption of fuel flow for undetermined reasons, resulting in a loss of engine power during flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Higher Class SPORT HORNET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=060004L), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Higher Class SPORT HORNET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=060004L), [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: [Higher Class SPORT HORNET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=060004L), [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: [Higher Class SPORT HORNET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060004L), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Higher Class SPORT HORNET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=060004L), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was an hour and 25 minutes into the flight, performing numerous turning maneuvers with bank angles varying between 20 and 45 degrees when the engine lost power. After the loss of engine power, he cupped his hands around the header low fuel warning light and noted that it was illuminated and was unaware how long it was on for. The engine was restarted and operated for 30 seconds before shutting down again. He elected to land near an area next to the lake, which he was maneuvering over at the time. The airplane flipped over during the force landing. A post recovery wreckage examination was performed. The presence of fuel was observed and no discrepancies were noted with the airplane’s fuel system. A five minute engine run was accomplished with no discrepancies noted. The pilot stated the airplane was topped off with fuel before the accident flight. The manufacturer states the airplane holds 16 gallons of usable fuel. The calculated fuel burn on the accident flight was about 8 gallons. ## Factual narrative On May 4, 2008, at 1440 eastern daylight time, a special light sport aircraft (S-LSA), Higher Class Aviation Sport Hornet, N104HC, registered to an individual, had a loss of engine power near Appling, Georgia. The sport pilot reported no injuries and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight was operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot stated that he topped off the wing tanks during his preflight inspection. He then departed the Edgefield County Airport (6J6), Trenton, South Carolina, at 1315 eastern daylight time to fly to a recreation area where he circled over a lake for approximately one hour. As he departed the area to return to 6J6, he noticed the fuel flow warning light from the electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) was on. He turned on the electrical fuel boost pump in an attempt to stabilize fuel flow; it was fluctuating from 2 to 12 gallons per hour. Shortly after, the airplane had a total loss of engine power. The pilot was able to restart the engine, but it ran for only 30 seconds before losing power again. He then set up for a force landing at the waters edge, descending at about 45 to 50 knots indicated airspeed. As the airplane touched down it continued up a bank until the nose wheel buried itself in soft sand and gravel, causing the airplane to nose over. Shortly before the loss of engine power, the pilot did perform numerous turning maneuvers with bank angles varying between 20 and 45 degrees. After the loss of engine power, he cupped his hands around the header low fuel warning light and noted that it was illuminated and was unaware how long it was on for. According to the airplane manufacture, the two wing tanks drain into a header tank which contains a float switch for the low fuel warning light. When the fuel level in the header tank drops one inch, this light illuminates. Once the light initially illuminates there should be sufficient fuel supply for 20 to 30 minutes of continued flight. As per the engine manufacturer, at maximum engine power, the fuel burn is 6.9 gallons per hour (GPH). The pilot provided a record from memory of various power settings used throughout the flight, corresponding to fuel burns between 3.8 and 6.6 GPH. The pilot reported the flight lasted approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes, for an estimated 8 gallons of fuel burn. The airplane’s fuel tanks hold a total of 18 gallons of fuel, with two gallons of those unusable. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circular (AC) 90-89A, page 23, the available fuel flow required for a 100 horse power engine, utilizing a gravity fed fuel system, is 13.7 GPH and if utilizing a pressurized system, it requires 11.5 GPH of fuel flow. Testing done by the airplane manufacture revealed the fuel flow into the header tank would be at a minimum between 30 and 45 degrees of bank, but would still be at least 13.8 GPH. Fuel flow between the header tank and engine with the boost pump would be a constant 22 GPH. The airplane wreckage was examined by a FAA inspector. The fuel system contained no leaks, and no anomalies were observed with any of the fuel lines or fittings. Fuel was noted in both the left and right fuel tanks. No internal or external damage was observed to the engine. The engine was run for approximately 5 minutes with an external fuel supply. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N104HC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N104HC-2022-10-01), registration cancelled 2022-10-01, S/N 062 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Higher Class Aviation Sport Hornet - Registry model: [Higher Class SPORT HORNET](https://openairdocs.org/model/higher-class-sport-hornet) (registry code 060004L) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 062 - Airframe hours: 34 - Engines: Rotax 912S 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Charles H Denany - Registered owner: Charles Denany - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 1, 2007 - Departed: 6J6, Trenton, SC - Destination: 6J6, Trenton, SC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review January 1, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 134 total, 18 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: DNL ## 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 20080504837389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080504837389A), May 4, 2008: Appling, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he was in cruise flight at approx 1200 feet when his engine quit. He noted that there was sufficient fuel onboard so he attempted to… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68026. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320523&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies: Federal Aviation Administration, Inspector's Statement. (item 2, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320524&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%3A%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration,%20Inspector%27s%20Statement.-Master.PDF - Miscellaneous: Excerpt from Airframe and Engine Manufacturer Specifications (item 3, .PDF, 243 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320527&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Excerpt%20from%20Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Manufacturer%20Specifications-Master.PDF - Miscellaneous: Excerpt from Airplane's Maintenance Records. (item 4, .PDF, 563 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320528&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Excerpt%20from%20Airplane%27s%20Maintenance%20Records.-Redacted.PDF 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.