# NTSB WPR12LA423: Barney Stardustrer SA-100, N1356Y, Chandler, AZ, September 17, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 17, 2012, 09:54 local (16:54 UTC) - Place: Chandler, AZ - Coordinates: 33.26889, -111.811111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2689&lon=-111.8111&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 7, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85074 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA423 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85074/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85074 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA423 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power as a result of fuel exhaustion due to a fuel line failure. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to adhere to the maintenance inspection criteria for the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Barney Robert J STARDUSTER SA-100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=8660426), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Barney Robert J STARDUSTER SA-100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=8660426), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Barney Robert J STARDUSTER SA-100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=8660426), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) - [Maintenance/inspections: scheduled maint checks](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010520): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Barney Robert J STARDUSTER SA-100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010520/cases.md?model=8660426), [All aircraft, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Barney Robert J STARDUSTER SA-100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=8660426), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Barney Robert J STARDUSTER SA-100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=8660426), [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: [Barney Robert J STARDUSTER SA-100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8660426), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Barney Robert J STARDUSTER SA-100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8660426), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he entered the airport traffic pattern and that the engine stopped developing power. He initiated a forced landing to an open area adjacent to the intended runway, which resulted in a hard landing. The pilot estimated that the airplane contained about 6 gallons of fuel at takeoff and that the flight required about 2 gallons of fuel. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that a fuel supply line had failed, which resulted in the loss of about 4 gallons of fuel in flight. This left less than 1 gallon of total fuel remaining, which was less than the usable fuel. It is likely that the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion. The most recent conditional inspection of the airplane, which should have been completed about 12 months before the accident in accordance with the airplane's operating limitations, was actually completed about 16 months before the accident. If a conditional inspection had been completed, it is likely that the fuel line would have shown signs of deterioration that may have been seen during the inspection. ## Factual narrative On September 17, 2012, about 0954 mountain standard time, an experimental amateur-built Barney Starduster SA-100 airplane, N1356Y, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent hard landing at the Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD), Chandler, Arizona. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to the pilot, and operated as a visual flight rules flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from Casa Grande, Arizona, about 14 minutes before the accident. In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that the engine stopped developing power as he entered the airport traffic pattern at CHD. The pilot initiated a forced landing in an open area adjacent to runway 22L and landed hard. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a representative of the FAA revealed structural damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the Number 4 steel braided fuel line that supplies fuel from the fuel pump to the fuel pressure sending unit, lost "integrity." The pilot estimated that he lost about 3.5 gallons of fuel during the 14-minute flight; the airplane subsequently lost engine power about 3 minutes before landing. The pilot stated that he departed Casa Grande with about 6 gallons of fuel onboard, and estimated that the flight would require about 2 gallons of fuel. The airplane's digital fuel totalizer showed about 4.2 gallons of fuel remaining within the main fuel tank after the accident; however, examination of the fuel tank (not breached) showed less than one gallon of total fuel remaining. The airplane's most recent conditional inspection was completed on May 11, 2011, about 16 months prior to the accident. Review of the operation limitations for the airplane revealed that item 12 states in part "…no person shall operate this aircraft unless within the preceding 12 calendar months it has had a condition inspection performed in accordance with Appendix D of Part 43 and found to be in a condition for safe operation." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1356Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1356Y), registered now, S/N B-1 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BARNEY STARDUSTRER SA-100 - Registry model: [Barney Robert J STARDUSTER SA-100](https://openairdocs.org/model/barney-robert-j-starduster-sa-100) (registry code 8660426) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: B-1 - Airframe hours: 783 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Still Michael J - Registered owner: Still Michael J - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 11, 2011, 20 hours before - Departed: KCGZ, Casa Grande, AZ - Destination: Chandler, AZ - Airport: KCHD, Chandler Municipal Airport, runway 22L, 4,850 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 525 total, 148 in this make and model, 452 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg ## 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 20120917023959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120917023959A), Sep 17, 2012: Barney Robert J STARDUSTRER SA-100, Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. On 9-17-12 at 0954 hours MST N1356Y, starduster SA-100 experimental aircraft, at Chandler Municipal Airport (chd), Chandler, Arizona, entered the left downwind… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 15, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85074. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404599&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Airplane Operating Limitation (item 2, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405365&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Operating%20Limitation-Redacted.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.