# NTSB WPR13LA336: Wester/Steiger Glastar, N130GS, Independence, OR, July 22, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 22, 2013, 14:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Independence, OR - Coordinates: 44.819721, -123.199165 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8197&lon=-123.1992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-Portland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87541 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA336 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87541/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87541 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA336 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## 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: [Wester W G/Steiger E R GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=056070Y), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Wester W G/Steiger E R GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056070Y), [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: [Wester W G/Steiger E R GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056070Y), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Wester W G/Steiger E R GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056070Y), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Wester W G/Steiger E R GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=056070Y), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while on final approach, the engine experienced a total loss of power and that he unsuccessfully attempted to restart it. He initiated a forced landing to a field, and, during the landing, the left float folded underneath the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Fuel was found on board, and it was not contaminated. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 2013 about 1440 Pacific daylight time, an amphibious float equipped experimental-amateur built Wester/Steiger Glastar, N130GS, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing in a field about 3 miles south of Independence State Airport (7S5), Independence, Oregon. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The cross-country flight originated from Charles M. Shultz-Sonoma County Airport, Santa Rosa, California, at 1100 with an intended destination of 7S5. The pilot reported in a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) that while he was on a straight and final approach to runway 34, about 1,300 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot moved the throttle, turned the fuel boost pump on, and executed the emergency checklist. Despite his efforts, he could not restart the engine and initiated a forced landing to an open cropped field. During the landing, the left float folded underneath the fuselage and the airplane came to rest upright. Postaccident examination of the airplane was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, and revealed the left wing upper surface was buckled and the fuselage was damaged near the float to fuselage attach points. Continuity was obtained from the cockpit engine controls to the engine. Fuel samples from both wing tanks tested negative for contaminates and debris. The fuel was blue in color and was consistent with Avgas. Both the fuel boost pump and fuel transfer pump were turned on and both made audible indications of normal operation. The engine cowling was removed and revealed no signs of fuel or oil leakage. No anomalies were noted during the visual inspection of the engine. The propeller assembly was rotated by hand and had a resistance consistent with cylinder pressure. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot reported that he had planned a 3 hour 30 minute flight and had a total of 50 gallons of fuel onboard. The pilot estimated a fuel burn rate of about 10.5 gallons per hour, totaling 36.75 gallons of fuel. During the wreckage recovery process, 7.5 gallons of fuel was drained from the wing tanks. The fuel selector was found in the OFF position. According to the airplane logbooks, on March 30, 2002, a header tank system was installed on the airplane which would make all fuel within the wing fuel tanks usable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N130GS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N130GS-2014-11-25), registration cancelled 2014-11-25, S/N 5065, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WESTER/STEIGER GLASTAR - Registry model: [Wester W G/Steiger E R GLASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/wester-w-g-steiger-e-r-glastar) (registry code 056070Y) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 5065 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 800 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 7, 2013 - Departed: KSTS, Santa Rosa, CA - Destination: 7S5, Independence, OR - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 7S5, Independence State Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 23, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 2,357 total, 752 in this make and model, 2,357 as pilot in command, 59 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 8 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KSLE, 12 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 20130722013829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130722013829A), Jul 22, 2013: Wester W G/Steiger E R GLASTAR, Independence, OR, Substantial damage. The flight began at santa rosa CA with the intention of ending in seattle WA. Independence airport (7S5) was a planned refueling point. The pilot reports that… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 16, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87541. 12.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40409498&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Logbook Entry-Header Tank Installation (item 2, .PDF, 347 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40409499&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Logbook%20Entry-Header%20Tank%20Installation-Master.PDF - FAA Exam Report (Excerpt) (item 3, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411208&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Exam%20Report%20(Excerpt)-Master.PDF - Photo 1-Accident Site (item 4, .PDF, 6.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40409500&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-Accident%20Site%20-Master.PDF - Photo 2-Accident Site (item 5, .PDF, 552 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40409506&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-Accident%20Site-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.