# NTSB NYC95LA016: Angel Avid/Heavy Hauler, N740FA, Sutton, MA, October 23, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 23, 1994, 11:25 local (15:25 UTC) - Place: Sutton, MA - Location: 42.1501° N, 71.7628° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sutton, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1501&lon=-71.7628&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 27, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38891 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38891/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA016 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE FUEL SELECTOR ON THE PROPER POSITION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis WHILE AT 2,500 FT MSL, THE ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE PILOT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN RESTARTING THE ENGINE, AND ELECTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. APPROX 20-30 FT BEFORE TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TOP OF SOME SMALL BIRCH TREES, CAUSING AN INSTANT REVERSAL OF DIRECTION AND SUBSEQUENT IMPACT WITH MARSHY GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE SHUTOFF VALVE WAS MOVED SEVERAL DEGREES TOWARD THE 'OFF' POSITION, BUBBLES BEGAN APPEARING IN THE [CLEAR PLASTIC] FUEL LINE, AND AFTER TEN MINUTES THE ENGINE STOPPED. THE ON/OFF LEVER OF THE FUEL VALVE IS MANUFACTURED SUCH THAT IT CAN BE EASILY MOVED, BECAUSE THERE ARE NO DETENTS TO KEEP THE VALVE IN THE SELECTED POSITION, AND THE VALVE ITSELF IS NOT KEYED TO THE PANEL TO PREVENT ROTATION. THE VALVE IS MOUNTED ALONG THE LOWER INSTRUMENT PANEL EDGE, AND IS LOCATED IN SUCH POSITION THAT THE LEVER CAN BE BUMPED WITH THE KNEE. ACCORDING TO THE FAA THE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE WAS FOUND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE CRASH SITE. ## Factual narrative On October 23, 1994, at 1125 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt, Angel, Avid/Heavy Hauler, N740FA, owned and piloted by Ferdinand R. Mastrangelo (a.k.a. Fred Angel), was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Sutton, Massachusetts. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. While at a cruise altitude of 2500 feet mean sea level (MSL), the airplane's engine lost total power. The pilot was unsuccessful in restarting the engine, and elected to make a forced landing in a field. According to the pilot's statement, "Within 20-30 feet of touchdown...I struck the top of some small birch trees causing an instant reversal of direction and subsequent impact with marshy ground. On October 24, 1994, FAA Inspector, Bertrand Labbe, examined and test ran the engine from N740FA. Mr. Labbe's wrote, the engine test run continued with no discrepancies noted until the engine shutoff valve was moved, "...several degrees toward the "OFF" position." According to Mr. Labbe, "...bubbles began appearing in the [clear plastic] fuel line. After ten minutes the engine stopped." Mr Labbe further wrote: ...the fire wall shutoff valve revealed...[the valve] was purchased from the manufacture of the aircraft kit "AVID"..."ON" position is at 9 o'clock..."OFF" position at 1 o'clock...the valve is completely "OFF" between 1145...and 1 o'clock position...there are no detents to keep the valve in the selected position and the valve itself is not keyed to the panel to prevent rotation. The valve was found secured in the panel, but the "ON" "OFF" lever which consists of a roll pin, came off in my hand while selecting positions. After approx. ten minutes of operation with the valve at the 1030 o'clock position the engine will sputter to a stop. Since the valve is mounted along the lower instrument panel edge, it (lever) could be bumped with the knee.... According to Mr. Labbe, when he arrived at the crash site the day following the accident he found the fuel shutoff valve in the "OFF" position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N740FA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N740FA-2023-10-25), registration cancelled 2023-10-25, S/N 739 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ANGEL AVID/HEAVY HAULER (AVID/HEAVY) - Registry model: [Avid Acft Co / Angel F HEAVY HAULER](https://openairdocs.org/model/avid-acft-co-angel-f-heavy-hauler) (registry code 05618BY) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 739 - Airframe hours: 37 - Engines: Rotax 582UL 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fred Angel - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 4, 1994, 25 hours before - Departed: FIT, FITCHBURG, MA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 430 total, 30 in this make and model, 378 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 7 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19941023035659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941023035659A), Oct 23, 1994: Amtr AVIDHAULER, Sutton, MA, Substantial damage. Lost power. Struck tree tops trying to land. Reversed direction. Impact in marsh. Selector had no detentes was off. 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.