# NTSB SEA05LA192: North American AT-6D, N3617F, Chehalis, WA, September 9, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 8, 2005, 18:45 local (Sep 9, 2005, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Chehalis, WA - Coordinates: 46.666667, -122 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.6667&lon=-122.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62440 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05LA192 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62440/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA192 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to follow the checklist to switch to the fullest fuel tank prior to departure which resulted in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power during the initial takeoff climb. Subsequently, the aircraft landed hard damaging the landing gear which resulted in an intentional wheels up landing. A runway taxiway sign was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Hard landing, landing - landing gear,main gear - disabled - Wheels up landing, landing - wheels up landing - intentional, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - airport sign/marker (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had been conducting revenue sightseeing and instructional flights throughout the day. This was the 11th ride of the day for the purpose of sightseeing. The pilot stated that during the pre-takeoff check, he recorded on the manifest that he switched the fuel selector to the fullest fuel tank, but failed to physically perform the action of switching the fuel selector. During the takeoff initial climb at about 100 feet above ground level, the engine began to lose power. The landing gear was already retracted and the pilot called for his passenger to extend the landing gear. The pilot switched the fuel selector to the fullest fuel tank and pumped the manual fuel pump. At the same time as the aircraft landed hard on the remaining runway, the engine regained power and the pilot continued the takeoff. The landing gear was left in the extended position and was soon determined that the right main landing gear torque link was damaged and the wheel was 90 degrees to the direction of flight. After discussing the situation with the ground crew, the pilot elected to land the aircraft with the landing gear retracted. During the gear-up landing, the aircraft slid off the runway surface into a muddy area, colliding with a runway taxi light and raised manhole cover. ## Factual narrative On September 8, 2005, about 1845 Pacific daylight time, a North American AT-6D, N3617F, registered to Gaillard Aviation Corp. and doing business as American Warbirds as a 14 CFR Part 91 revenue sightseeing flight, experienced a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from the Chehalis-Centralia Airport, Chehalis, Washington. The aircraft subsequently touched down hard on the remaining runway which damaged the landing gear. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The aircraft was substantially damaged during the subsequent gear-up landing. The Airline Transport Pilot and his passenger were not injured. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he had been conducting revenue sightseeing and instructional flights throughout the day. This was the 11th ride of the day for the purpose of sightseeing. The pilot stated that during the pre-takeoff check, he recorded on the manifest that he switched the fuel selector to the fullest fuel tank, but failed to physically perform the action of switching the fuel selector. During the takeoff initial climb at about 100 feet above ground level, the engine began to lose power. The landing gear was already retracted and the pilot called for his passenger to extend the landing gear. The pilot switched the fuel selector to the fullest fuel tank and pumped the manual fuel pump. At the same time as the aircraft touched down hard on the remaining runway, the engine regained power and the pilot continued the takeoff. The landing gear was left in the extended position and was soon determined that the right main landing gear torque link was damaged and the wheel was 90 degrees to the direction of flight. After discussing the situation with the ground crew, the pilot elected to land the aircraft with the landing gear retracted. During the gear-up landing, the aircraft slid off the runway surface into a muddy area, colliding with a runway taxi light and raised manhole cover. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3617F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3617F), registered now, S/N 90773 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: North American AT-6D - Registry model: [North American AT-6D](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-at-6d) (registry code 6400416) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 90773 - Airframe hours: 9989 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gaillard Aviation Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2005, 41 hours before - Departed: CLS, Chehalis, WA - Airport: CLS, Chehalis-Centralia, runway 16, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review August 1, 2005; seat: rear; flight hours: 5,417 total, 2,198 in this make and model, 5,254 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: OLM, 18 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 20050908020689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050908020689A), Sep 8, 2005: Namer AT6D, Chehalis, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) At approx 1845 PDT on 9-8-2005 at Centralia airport, Centralia WA, a north American AT-6D made a gear up landing. During rollout the aircraft skidded off… ## Other investigations on N3617F (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 NYC74FHA09](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC74FHA09-136948), Jul 21, 1974: N.American SNJ-5 (N3617F), Pittstown, NJ, 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.