# NTSB NYC03LA040: Cessna 207A, N9945M, Put In Bay, OH, January 20, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 20, 2003, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Put In Bay, OH - Coordinates: 41.636665, -82.82833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6367&lon=-82.8283&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-25 - NTSB case key (mKey): 56359 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56359/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56359 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA040 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power during the initial climb. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - starvation - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, about 300 feet agl, the engine lost all power. The pilot activated the electric fuel pump, and moved the fuel selector several times. However, the engine did not regain power, and the pilot performed a forced landing into trees. After the accident, the pilot stated to a police officer that he might have departed with the fuel selector positioned to an empty tank. The pilot subsequently stated that both fuel gauges indicated "1/4" full, and he could not remember which tank was selected during the takeoff. Additionally, a passenger stated that he did not smell or observe fuel when he exited the airplane. The passenger added that in the past, the pilot had exhausted one fuel tank, then switched to the other tank and the engine re-started. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector revealed that fuel selector was positioned to the right tank. The right fuel tank contained some fuel, and left fuel tank had ruptured. Following the accident, a successful engine test-run was performed. ## Factual narrative On January 20, 2003, about 0945 eastern standard time, a Cessna 207A, N9945M, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a total loss of engine power while departing from Put In Bay Airport (3W2), Put In Bay, Ohio. The certificated commercial pilot and a passenger sustained minor injuries, while another passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned flight to Carl R. Keller Field (PCW), Port Clinton, Ohio. No flight plan was filed for the air taxi flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 135. The pilot stated that the engine start, taxi, run-up, and takeoff were uneventful. However, shortly after departing runway 03, about 300 feet agl, the engine lost all power. After the power loss, the pilot activated the electric fuel pump, and moved the fuel selector several times. He then heard the stall warning horn, and performed a forced landing into trees. The pilot believed that the power loss was related to fuel, but he was not sure of the exact cause. He added that there was no unusual engine noise or sputtering. The pilot further stated that both fuel gauges indicated "1/4" full, and he probably departed with the fuel selector positioned to the right tank, but could not be certain. The pilot also noted that after the power loss, with the electric fuel pump operating, the fuel flow gauge did not indicate any flow. However, he added that in the past, there was a time lag between activation of the pump, and a noticeable increase in indicated fuel flow. According to an Ohio State Police report, shortly after the accident, the pilot stated to a Put In Bay police officer that he may have selected the empty fuel tank. Additionally, one of the passengers stated that when he exited the airplane, he did not see or smell any fuel. The passenger added: "I have been in the plane with [the pilot] before when he has run out of fuel in one tank and switched over to the other tank and refired the engine..." Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. The inspector observed that the fuel selector was positioned to the right fuel tank, and the right tank contained some fuel. The left fuel tank had ruptured during the impact. The inspector observed about one ounce of fuel in the flow divider, and it was absent of contamination. He did not observe any ice build-up on the air intake. Due to the disposition of the wreckage, the inspector was unable to rotate the propeller 360 degrees. He was able to move it somewhat, and did not hear any binding sounds. The inspector planned to further examine the engine after the wreckage was recovered. On February 4, 2003, under the supervision of an FAA inspector, an engine test-run was attempted. Due to impact damage, a new propeller, fuel pump, and auxiliary starter were utilized for the test-run. An initial engine start was unsuccessful. Subsequently, the spark plugs were dried, a damaged left magneto p-lead was replaced, and the engine was primed. When the crankshaft was rotated, the engine started immediately and ran smoothly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9945M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9945M-2004-02-13), registration cancelled 2004-02-13, S/N 20700153, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 207A - Registry model: [Cessna 207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (registry code 2073604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20700153 - Airframe hours: 6283 - Engines: Continental IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Dairy Air - Registered owner: Alaska Aircraft Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 15, 2003, 10 hours before - Departed: 3W2, Put In Bay, OH - Destination: PCW, Port Clinton, OH - Airport: 3W2, Put In Bay Airport, runway 030, 2,870 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 20, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 4,500 total, 405 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 5 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: ONZ, 35 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 20030120002719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030120002719A), Jan 20, 2003: Cessna 207A, Put In Bay, OH, Destroyed. (-23) On January 20, 2003, about 0945 eastern standard time (EST), a Cessna 207, N9945M, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a total… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 27, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56359. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 326 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446381&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Excerpts from Police Report (item 2, .PDF, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446382&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Police%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446383&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Interview Summaries (item 4, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446384&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summaries-Redacted.PDF - Excerpt from FAA Inspector Notes (item 5, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40183359&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20FAA%20Inspector%20Notes-Master.PDF - Supplemental Statement from Pilot (item 6, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446385&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplemental%20Statement%20from%20Pilot-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.