# NTSB SEA00LA185: Rowe Pietenpol, N5079R, Raymond, WA, September 23, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 23, 2000, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Raymond, WA - Coordinates: 46.560913, -123.880805 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5609&lon=-123.8808&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50326 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA185 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50326/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA185 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain an airspeed above power-off stall speed (Vso) while attempting a forced landing after a total loss of engine power, and his failure to move the fuel selector switch to the 'ON' position prior to takeoff. Factors include the pilot's failure to use a checklist, fuel starvation, and an inadequate fuel valve location. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - acft/equip,inadequate control location, manufacturer (contributing factor) - checklist - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot, who did not use a checklist, placed the fuel valve in the 'OFF' position while hand-propping his aircraft. After the engine started, he climbed into the back cockpit, but forgot to reposition the fuel valve, which was located in the front cockpit, to the 'ON' position. During the climb-out after takeoff, the engine quit from fuel starvation, but the pilot was unable to reach the valve in order to reposition it during flight. He therefore turned back to the airport in order to execute an engine-out landing. As the aircraft was crossing the runway threshold, the pilot allowed the airspeed to drop below power-off stall speed (Vso), and the aircraft stalled/mushed into the runway surface. ## Factual narrative On September 23, 2000, approximately 1000 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Rowe Pietenpol Aircamper, N5079R, impacted the runway during an attempted forced landing, after experiencing a complete loss of power during the climb-out from Willapa Harbor Airport, Raymond, Washington. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, received serious injuries, and the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Willapa Harbor Airport about three minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed to the planned destination of Astoria, Oregon. The ELT, which was activated by the impact, was turned off at the scene. According to the pilot, who did not follow a checklist during this flight, he used the common practice of leaving the fuel selector valve in the "OFF" position while hand-propping the engine during the start sequence. After the engine started, he climbed into the back cockpit, but forgot to reposition the fuel valve, which was in the front cockpit, to the "ON" position. After takeoff from runway 11, while climbing out to the southeast, the engine quit, and almost immediately, the pilot realized that he failed to reposition the fuel valve prior to takeoff. Although he could see the valve, he was unable to reach it in order to change its position while in flight. He therefore reversed course and headed back toward the airport. As the aircraft crossed the threshold of runway 29, the pilot allowed the airspeed to slow below power-off stall speed (Vso), and the aircraft stalled/mushed into the surface of the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5079R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5079R-2015-05-08), registration cancelled 2015-05-08, S/N 6518, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rowe PIETENPOL - Registry model: [Rowe William D PIETENPOL](https://openairdocs.org/model/rowe-william-d-pietenpol) (registry code 05605SK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6518 - Airframe hours: 50 - Engines: Continental A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William D. Rowe - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 2000, 20 hours before - Departed: 2S9 - Destination: AST, ASTORIA, OR - Airport: 2S9, Willapa Harbor, runway 29, 3,000 × 52 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,200 total, 1,200 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F 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.