# NTSB WPR09LA215: Stanton Glastar, N518PV, Redding, CA, April 25, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 25, 2009, 10:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Redding, CA - Coordinates: 40.507221, -122.395835 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5072&lon=-122.3958&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 11, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73725 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA215 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73725/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73725 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA215 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power during cruise for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Stanton Don V GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=056215L), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Stanton Don V GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056215L), [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: [Stanton Don V GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056215L), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Stanton Don V GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056215L), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The builder/pilot was flying the experimental airplane on a local flight. About 40 minutes after takeoff the pilot noted a loss of fuel pressure and he activated a second electric fuel pump, which corrected the problem, but only for a few seconds. The engine subsequently lost all power and nosed over during the resulting forced landing. The personnel on scene determined that the airplane had more than 10 gallons of fuel on board. During the post-accident examination of the experimental Subaru automotive conversion engine, no definitive cause of the loss of fuel pressure could be found. ## Factual narrative On April 25, 2009, about 1040 Pacific daylight time, an experimental homebuilt Stanton Glastar, N518PV, nosed over during an off airport landing following a total loss of engine power near Redding, California. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local personal flight departed Redding about 1000. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The builder/pilot reported that during the flight the engine lost fuel pressure. He activated the second electric fuel pump, which corrected the problem, but only for a few seconds. The engine subsequently lost all power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a dirt field where during the landing roll the airplane nosed over. It was determined by the personnel on scene that the airplane had more than 10 gallons of fuel on board. The builder/pilot reported that during the post-accident examination of the experimental 2.5L Subaru automotive conversion engine, he was unable to determine the exact cause of the loss of fuel pressure. The pilot opined that air somehow got into the suction side of the fuel system causing the non-self priming fuel pumps to stop supplying fuel to the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N518PV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N518PV-2009-10-01), registration cancelled 2009-10-01, S/N 5633, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STANTON GLASTAR - Registry model: [Stanton Don V GLASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/stanton-don-v-glastar) (registry code 056215L) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 5633 - Engines: SUBARU ALL MDLS A/B 400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: RDD, Redding, CA - Destination: RDD, Redding, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 28, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 148 total, 22 in this make and model, 99 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: RDD, 47 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 20090425008909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090425008909A), Apr 25, 2009: Amtr GLASTAR, Redding, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reported engine power loss during cruise and determined lack of fuel pressure on the fuel gauge. He turned on the second fuel pump which gave fuel… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73725. 678 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 670 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40312944&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Post Accident Inspection Report (item 2, .PDF, 8 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327364&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Post%20Accident%20Inspection%20Report-Master.PDF 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.