# NTSB MIA98LA231: Bibb RV-4, N144KT, Chapel Hill, NC, August 29, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 29, 1998, 10:10 local (14:10 UTC) - Place: Chapel Hill, NC - Coordinates: 35.920791, -79.039062 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9208&lon=-79.0391&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43804 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA231 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43804/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA231 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to ensure the aircraft contained adequate fuel to complete the flight resulting in loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Analysis The pilot estimated he departed with about 18 gallons of usable fuel and that the engine uses about 9 gallons per hour. While on final approach to his destination the engine quit. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful and a forced landing was made in a wooded area. Postcrash examination of the aircraft by FAA inspectors showed the aircraft did not contain any usable fuel and that there was no evidence of fuel leakage from the aircraft after the accident or in flight before the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 29, 1998, about 1010 eastern daylight time, a Bibb RV-4 homebuilt aircraft, N144KT, registered to an individual, collided with trees while making a forced landing following loss of engine power at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated from Manassas, Virginia, the same day, about 0850. The pilot stated that the aircraft holds 32 gallons of fuel with 26 gallons being usable. He had the aircraft's tanks filled the day before the accident flight and flew about 1.1 flight hours on that day. Before departing Manassas, he checked his fuel tanks and estimated that the aircraft contained about 24 gallons of fuel. He departed with the fuel selector on the right fuel tank and flew at an altitude of between 2000 and 3000 feet to Chapel Hill. He estimated the engine consumed about 8.5-9.0 gallons per hour for the flight. He did not switch fuel tanks during the flight. He entered the traffic pattern at the Horace Williams Airport. When he turned on final approach to runway 27, the engine quit abruptly. He switched fuel tanks and attempted to restart the engine. It would not restart. He turned to a field for a forced landing and saw that there were people on the field. He then turned toward the left away from the field and impacted into trees. As he exited the aircraft, he noticed fuel leaking from the left wing fuel tank. Postcrash examination of the crash site and aircraft by FAA inspectors showed the aircraft's fuel tanks did not contain any usable fuel and had not been damaged in the accident. There was no evidence of fuel leakage at the scene and there was no evidence of inflight fuel leakage from the aircraft. The fuel strainer bowl was tight and when it was removed for inspection it was found to be empty. Examination of the engine showed no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N144KT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N144KT), registered now, S/N 1187, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bibb RV-4 - Registry model: [Bibb Richard E RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/bibb-richard-e-rv-4) (registry code 05624C4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1187 - Airframe hours: 158 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard E. Bibb - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 28, 1998, 28 hours before - Departed: HEF, MANASSAS, VA - Destination: IGX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 306 total, 159 in this make and model, 275 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 5 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RDU, 12 nm away ## 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 19980829022339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980829022339A), Aug 29, 1998: Amtr RV4, Chapel Hill, NC, Substantial damage. Acft experienced engine failure and crashed. (.23)aircraft crashed into trees approximately 1/2 mile east of runway during final approch to runway 27. Pilot… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.