# NTSB SEA06LA040: Holscher KR II, N395JT, McNeil Island, WA, January 8, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 8, 2006, 11:35 local (19:35 UTC) - Place: McNeil Island, WA - Coordinates: 47.212223, -122.650276 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2122&lon=-122.6503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Seattle FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 63118 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63118/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06LA040 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion while in cruise flight due to inaccurate fuel quantity indications. Factors included the pilot's failure to positively determine the quantity of fuel onboard the aircraft during preflight, and rough, uneven grassy terrain at the location where the pilot found it necessary to execute the forced landing. ## Analysis About 15 minutes after takeoff, during en route cruise, the aircraft's engine started to run rough and then completely stopped producing power. The pilot then established the aircraft in a descent at best glide speed, and tried to get the engine restarted. When he found that he could not get the engine to restart, the pilot, who at that time was over water, made a 180 degree turn in order to head toward the nearest landing area. He eventually touched down in a rough field, and although the initial touchdown was successful, as the aircraft traveled across the rough field, the nose gear collapsed, and the aircraft nosed over onto its back. A post-accident inspection revealed that the aircraft had run out of useable fuel. In addition, an inspection/test of the fuel system determined that both the electric fuel gauge and the backup fuel level sighting tube were severely miscalibrated, and both indicated the aircraft contained significantly more fuel than was actually present during the test. During the investigation, the pilot said that he had looked in the fuel tank prior to takeoff, but that he did not use a dip stick to confirm how much fuel was actually present. He further stated that based upon what the gauges indicated prior to takeoff, he thought he had enough fuel for more than two hours of flight. ## Factual narrative On January 8, 2006, approximately 1135 Pacific standard time, an experimental Holscher KR II, N395JT, experienced a nose gear collapse during an off-field landing on McNeil Island, Washington. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, which departed Olympia Regional Airport, Olympia, Washington, about 20 minutes prior to the accident, was en route to Tacoma Narrows Airport, Tacoma, Washington. No flight plan had been filed. There was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, about 15 minutes after takeoff, during en route cruise, the aircraft's engine started to run rough and then completely stopped producing power. The pilot then established the aircraft in a descent at best glide speed, and tried to get the engine restarted. When he found that he could not get the engine to restart, the pilot, who at that time was over water, made a 180 degree turn in order to head toward the nearest landing area. He eventually touched down in a rough field near the northeast end of McNeil Island. Although the initial touchdown was successful, as the aircraft traveled across the rough field, the nose gear collapsed, and the aircraft nosed over onto its back. A post- accident inspection by an Airworthiness Inspector from the Seattle Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) revealed that the aircraft had run out of useable fuel. In addition, during a post-crash inspection/test of the fuel system, it was determined that both the electric fuel gauge and the backup fuel level sighting tube were severely miscalibrated, and both indicated the aircraft contained significantly more fuel than was actually present during the test. During the investigation, the pilot said that he had looked in the fuel tank prior to takeoff, but that he did not use a dip stick to confirm how much fuel was actually present. He further stated that based upon what the gauges indicated prior to takeoff, he thought that he had enough fuel for over two hours of flight. ## 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 - exhaustion (cause) - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - terrain condition - grass (contributing factor) - Nose over, emergency landing ## Aircraft - Registration: [N395JT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N395JT-2018-02-13), registration cancelled 2018-02-13, S/N 001, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Holscher KR II - Registry model: [Holscher John T KR II STARSHIP](https://openairdocs.org/model/holscher-john-t-kr-ii-starship) (registry code 05626Y4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Revmaster 2100](https://openairdocs.org/engine/revmaster-2100) (registry code 52550, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Airframe hours: 150 - Engines: Revmaster 2100D 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William T. Walsh - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 1, 1995 - Departed: OLM, Olympia, WA - Destination: TIW, Tacoma Narrows, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 235 total, 45 in this make and model, 173 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken ## 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 20060108001039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060108001039A), Jan 8, 2006: Amtr KR2, Mcneil Island, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot departed olympia airport approx 1120 PST climbed to 3500', leveled off, leaned for cruise. Between Mcneil Island and fox Island engine quit. Pilot… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.