# NTSB NYC07LA233: Temco GC-1B, N2455B, New Smyrna Bch, FL, September 21, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 21, 2007, 13:05 local (17:05 UTC) - Place: New Smyrna Bch, FL - Coordinates: 29.055555, -80.94889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0556&lon=-80.9489&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66736 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07LA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66736/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07LA233 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which was the result of a blocked fuel tank vent. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - starvation - fuel system,vent - blocked(total) (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) ## Analysis After purchasing the airplane more than 2 1/2 years prior, the airplane was flown to an airport, where it remained until the date of the accident, when the pilot intended to reposition the airplane to another airport. The airplane experienced a loss of engine power during the initial climb after takeoff, and the pilot attempted a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane "cart-wheeled," and impacted trees. The forward portion of the fuselage, forward of the main spar, was completely separated. Examination of the main fuel tank vent line revealed that it was completely obstructed by a "mud dauber" nest. No other discrepancies with the engine or airframe were noted. The airplane had not been flown since its most recent annual inspection, which according to maintenance records, was performed about 8 months prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On September 21, 2007, about 1305 eastern daylight time, a Temco GC-1B (Globe Swift), N2455B, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, after it experienced a loss of engine power during the initial climb after takeoff from the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport (EVB), New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The certificated commercial pilot was killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot purchased the airplane in January 2005. After purchase, the airplane was flown to EVB, where it remained until the date of the accident, when the pilot intended to reposition the airplane to Edgewater, Florida. Prior to takeoff, the pilot added 6 gallons of fuel to the main fuel tank, and subsequently departed runway 11, a 4,319-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The airplane experienced a loss of engine power during the initial climb after takeoff, and the pilot attempted a forced landing to a grassy area, parallel to runway 2. During the landing, the airplane "cart-wheeled," and impacted trees. The forward portion of the fuselage, forward of the main spar, was completely separated. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed the fuel selector was placed in the main tank position. There was no evidence of any usable fuel present in both the left and right wing fuel tanks, which were compromised. Examination of the main fuel tank vent line revealed that it was completely obstructed by a "mud dauber" nest. No other discrepancies with the engine or airframe were noted. The FAA inspector added that the airplane had not been flown since its most recent annual inspection, which according to maintenance records, was performed on January 19, 2007. The pilot reported 16,520 hours of total flight experience on his most recent application for an FAA third-class medical certificate, which was issued on November 29, 2006. An autopsy was performed on the pilot by the Volusia and Seminole County Medical Examiner’s Office, Daytona Beach, Florida, on September 25, 2007. The autopsy report revealed the cause of death as "blunt force head trauma." Toxicological testing was conducted on the pilot at the FAA Toxicology Accident Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with no anomalies noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2455B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2455B), registered now, S/N 3755, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TEMCO GC-1B - Registry model: [Temco GC-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/temco-gc-1b) (registry code 9230108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3755 - Airframe hours: 1346 - Engines: TCM IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bruce M Smith - Registered owner: Euro Wings Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 19, 2007 - Departed: EVB, New Smyrna Bch, FL - Destination: Edgewater, FL - Airport: EVB, New Smyrna Beach, runway 11, 4,319 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: fatal; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 16,520 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: EVB ## 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 20070921022359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070921022359A), Sep 21, 2007: Swftms GC1B, New Smyrna Bea, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) Pilot had fuselage tank topped with six gallons prior to departure to massey air ranch. Aircraft departed runway 11 and immediately reported that he had… ## Other investigations on N2455B (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 CHI66D0781](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66D0781), May 11, 1966: Globe Swift GC-1B (N2455B), Cleveland, OH, substantial damage 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.