# NTSB NYC02LA185: Reiley Seawind 3000, N278ER, Bloomingburg, OH, September 7, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 7, 2002, 09:10 local (13:10 UTC)
- Place: Bloomingburg, OH
- Coordinates: 39.61639, -83.395835
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6164&lon=-83.3958&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO-05
- NTSB case key (mKey): 55646
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA185
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55646/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA185

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadvertent use of the fuel shutoff valve which resulted in a subsequent total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb
  - fluid,fuel - starvation
  - miscellaneous - inadvertent use, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel system,fuel shutoff - activated
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, emergency descent/landing
  - object - wire,transmission

## Analysis

While climbing to altitude, the engine oil temperature began to rise, and the pilot elected to return to the airport.  While proceeding to the airport, the pilot decided to open the cowl flaps to see if the temperature would decrease, but by mistake, pulled the fuel shutoff lever.  The engine lost total power, and after attempts to restart the engine, the pilot initiated a forced landing to a grass field.  Unable to make the grass field, the pilot touched down in a cornfield, struck utility lines, and nosed over, coming to rest inverted.

## Factual narrative

On September 7, 2002, about 0910 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Seawind 3000, N278ER, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Bloomingburg, Ohio.  The certificated private pilot was seriously injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, he had been experiencing high engine oil temperatures on previous flights, and was attempting to determine the cause.  After departing the Fayette County Airport (I23), Washington Court House, Ohio, the oil temperature began to rise, and the pilot elected to return to the airport.  While proceeding to the airport, the pilot decided to open the cowl flaps to see if the temperature would decrease, but mistakenly, pulled the fuel shutoff lever.  The engine lost total power, and after unsuccessful attempts to restart the engine, the pilot initiated a forced landing to a grass field.  Unable to make the grass field, the pilot touched down in a cornfield, struck low-lying utility lines, and nosed over, coming to rest inverted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N278ER](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N278ER-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N HULL #138 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Reiley Seawind 3000
- Registry model: [Reiley Eddie D SEAWIND 3000](https://openairdocs.org/model/reiley-eddie-d-seawind-3000) (registry code 05610OV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 138
- Airframe hours: 10
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Eddie D. Reiley
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 2002, 10 hours before
- Departed: I23, Washington Cour, OH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 800 total, 10 in this make and model, 800 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: CVG, 60 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 20020907037949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020907037949A), Sep 7, 2002: Amtr SEAWIND3000, Bloomingberg, OH, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft was in flight when the engine oil temperature started to get hot. The pilot turned back toward the airport. On the way back to the airport the…

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.

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