# NTSB WPR09CA103: Aeronca 7BC, N2805E, Half Moon Bay, CA, January 29, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 29, 2009, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Half Moon Bay, CA - Coordinates: 37.518333, -122.683334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5183&lon=-122.6833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 6, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73290 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73290/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA103 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to perform an accurate visual fuel quantity check prior to initiating the flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis While returning from an island sightseeing flight about 25 miles into the Pacific Ocean, the pilot of the rented vintage airplane heard what he thought was a change in engine sound. About five minutes later, while cruising at about 2,400 rpm, with oil pressure and oil temperature indicating normal, the engine suddenly stopped producing power. Although the wood propeller continued to windmill until the airplane was slowed to about 60 miles per hour, the pilot could not get the engine restarted and ultimately ditched in the ocean. The duration of the flight was 1.6 hours and the pilot reported that the 13-gallon fuel tank appeared full prior to engine start. A subsequent records review revealed that the airplane had been flown for .6 of an hour on the previous day, and had not subsequently been refueled. According to the certified flight instructor, who checked the pilot out in the airplane, the pilot was informed that due to its limited fuel quantity, when fully fueled, the airplane needed to be back at the airport two hours after departure. The total time logged since the last refueling was 2.2 hours, and the flight to the island included an outbound climb to about 5,000 feet. ## Factual narrative While returning from an island sightseeing flight about 25 miles out into the Pacific Ocean, the pilot of the rented 1946 Aeronca 7BC heard what he thought was a change in engine sound. About five minutes later, while cruising at about 2,400 rpm, with oil pressure and oil temperature indicating normal, the engine suddenly stopped producing power. Although the wood propeller continued to windmill until the airplane was slowed to about 60 miles per hour, the pilot could not get the engine restarted, and ultimately ditched in the ocean. The duration of the flight was 1.6 hours, and the pilot reported to the NTSB that the 13-gallon fuel tank appeared full prior to engine start. A subsequent records review revealed that the airplane had been flown for .6 of an hour on the previous day, and had not subsequently been refueled. According to the CFI who checked the pilot out in the airplane, the pilot was informed that due to its limited fuel quantity, when fully fueled, the airplane needed to be back at the airport two hours after departure. The total time logged since the last refueling was 2.2 hours, and the flight to the island included an outbound climb to about 5,000 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2805E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2805E-2012-03-01), registration cancelled 2012-03-01, S/N 7AC-6388 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7BC - Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-6388 - Engines: Continental C85F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: AeroDynamic Aviation - Registered owner: Amelia Reid Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KRHV, San Jose, CA - Destination: KRHV, San Jose, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 20, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 337 total, 27 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 34 °F ## 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 20090129001209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090129001209A), Jan 29, 2009: Bbavia 7AC, Half Moon Bay, CA, Destroyed. [privacy data omitted] Departed reid hillview airport in san jose, CA with less than full tanks. The previous airman, [privacy data omitted], flew this… 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.