# NTSB WPR09CA225: Rans S-7, N4272M, Atomic City, ID, May 1, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 1, 2009, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Atomic City, ID - Coordinates: 43.218055, -113.227218 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2181&lon=-113.2272&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 14, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73766 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA225 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73766/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA225 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel management. ## 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 · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Spaulding Errol RANS S-7 COURIER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05626KM), [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: [Spaulding Errol RANS S-7 COURIER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=05626KM), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation; cases with it: [Spaulding Errol RANS S-7 COURIER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05626KM), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Spaulding Errol RANS S-7 COURIER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05626KM), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Spaulding Errol RANS S-7 COURIER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05626KM), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Spaulding Errol RANS S-7 COURIER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05626KM), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot/owner and a pilot rated passenger flew to a local airport for a brief stop, and then continued to another nearby airport where the passenger performed a touch-and-go. He had begun a slight right turn during the climbout from the touch-and-go when the engine lost power about 250 feet above ground level (agl). The owner took control, turned back to the left, and tried to land on the end of the runway. He leveled off slightly about 20 feet agl, and then flared for landing. The airplane landed hard on the north side of the runway and the right wheel broke off. The landing gear dug into the turf, the airplane spun 180 degrees, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airframe around the tailwheel and rudder sustained substantial damage. The owner indicated that the airplane had a header tank that was the only fuel supply for the engine in addition to the wing tanks that were used to supply the header tank. He used an electric fuel pump to manually transfer fuel from the wing tanks to the header tank. He stated that he usually did not let the header tank get less than half full since the fuel pick-up port for the engine driven pump is at the front of the tank. He said that he probably let the fuel level get too low on this flight. During the climbout with the nose up, he surmised that the header tank fuel pick-up unported, resulting in the loss of power. ## Factual narrative The pilot/owner and a pilot rated passenger flew to a local airport for a brief stop, and then continued to another nearby airport where the passenger did a touch-and-go. He had begun a slight right turn during the climb out from the touch-and-go when the engine lost power about 250 feet above ground level (agl). The owner took control, turned back to the left, and tried to land on the end of the runway. He leveled off slightly about 20 feet agl, and then flared for landing. The airplane landed hard on the north side of the runway, and the right wheel broke off. The landing gear dug into the turf; the airplane spun 180 degrees, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airframe around the tail wheel and rudder sustained substantial damage. The owner indicated that the airplane had a header tank that was the only fuel supply for the engine in addition to the wing tanks that were used to supply the header tank. He used an electric fuel pump to manually transfer fuel from the wing tanks to the header tank. He stated that he usually doesn't let the header tank get less than half full since the fuel pick-up port for the engine driven pump is at the front of the tank. He said that he probably let the fuel level get too low on this flight. During the climb out with the nose up, he surmised that the header tank fuel pick-up unported, resulting in the loss of power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4272M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4272M), registered now, S/N 0693110 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RANS S-7 - Registry model: [Spaulding Errol RANS S-7 COURIER](https://openairdocs.org/model/spaulding-errol-rans-s-7-courier) (registry code 05626KM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0693110 - Airframe hours: 2593 - Engines: Rotax 912 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Errol Spaulding - Registered owner: Errol Spaulding - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 8, 2008 - Departed: U46, Atomic City, ID - Destination: U48, Atomic City, ID - Airport: U48, Coxs Well, runway 26, 2,700 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review March 13, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 2,900 total, 2,593 in this make and model, 2,900 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 5, 2007; seat: rear; flight hours: 760 total, 400 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KPIH, 38 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 20090501005029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090501005029A), May 1, 2009: Spauld RANSS7COURIE, Atomic City, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 1, 2009 at 2320 MDT received call regional operation center (roc) of an aircraft abandoned on the runway after crashing at cox's Well airport… ## Other investigations on N4272M (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 GAA15LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15LA025), Mar 27, 2015: Spaulding Errol Rans S 7 Courier (N4272M), Pinedale, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to take off in a crosswind that exceeded the airplane’s maximum demonstrated crosswind capability and his subsequent inability to maintain directional control. 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.