# NTSB WPR18LA246: Cessna 140, N2167V, Tehachapi, CA, August 31, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 30, 2018, 19:02 local (Aug 31, 2018, 02:02 UTC) - Place: Tehachapi, CA - Coordinates: 35.137222, -118.444168 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1372&lon=-118.4442&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98198 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA246 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98198/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98198 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA246 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power during the initial climb. ## 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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071602), [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: [Cessna 140, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/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 exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the preflight inspection, the pilot determined that the left fuel tank was empty and the right tank contained 4 gallons of fuel (capacity 12 1/2 gallons). After discovering that the airport fuel pumps were inoperative, the pilot decided to proceed with the flight and remain in the airport traffic pattern. The pilot performed a series of touch-and-go takeoff and landings and during the initial climb phase of the fifth takeoff, the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted a 180° turn back to the runway, during which the airplane impacted the taxiway, resulting in substantial damage. Due to the airplane's vintage, operational and performance details such as fuel consumption and unusable fuel quantity were unavailable; however, a placard on the fuel gauges indicated that takeoff should not be attempted if the tank was filled to just under 1/4 of its capacity. It is likely that the airplane consumed the remainder of the usable fuel during the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On August 30, 2018, at 1902 Pacific daylight time a Cessna 140, N2167V, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Tehachapi, California. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that during the preflight inspection, she utilized a dipstick and determined that the left fuel tank was empty and the right tank contained 4 gallons of fuel. She taxied the airplane to the fuel pumps, but upon arrival, discovered that they were inoperative. Based on fuel consumption during previous flights, she concluded that she had enough fuel for 30 minutes of flight, and decided to proceed with the flight and remain in the traffic pattern for runway 29. The pilot performed a series of touch-and-go takeoff and landings. About 20 minutes into the flight, during the fifth landing roll, she decided to perform one more takeoff. Shortly after rotation, about 50 ft above ground level, the engine lost total power. With limited runway available, and hangars to the left and a busy highway to the right, she decided to attempt a 180° left turn back to the runway. During the turn, the airplane struck the adjacent taxiway to the south, its left main landing gear collapsed, and it came to rest left wing down. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the high-wing airplane was manufactured in 1947 and purchased by the pilot in May 2018. It was originally equipped with a Continental C-90 engine and refitted with a Continental O-200-A engine in October 2000. The airplane was equipped with 12 ½-gallon fuel tanks in each wing, both fitted with a mechanical direct reading fuel quantity gauge, installed at the wing roots and visible within the cabin. The fuel gauges were placarded with graduations noting F [full], 3/4, 1/2, and 1/4 tank capacity. The area below the 1/4 marking was shaded red in color with the marking, "NO TAKE OFF." Fuel was gravity-fed from the tanks to a tank selector valve mounted on the cabin floor. The selector valve provided settings for fuel flow from either the right or left tank, shut-off, and a "both" position to provide fuel flow from both tanks simultaneously. The tanks were interconnected with a vent line. Due to the vintage of the airplane, limited operational and performance details were available, and useable fuel and fuel consumption with the equipped O-200-A engine could not be confirmed. According to the 1969 Cessna 150(J) Owner's Manual, the Continental O-200-A engine consumed between 3.0 and 6.4 gallons of fuel per hour while flying at an altitude of 5,000 feet msl. The manual estimated the fuel used during takeoff and climb at sea level was 0.6 gallons, and 1.6 gallons from sea level to 5,000 ft. The climb consumption included allowances for engine warm-up and takeoff. An FAA inspector and an A&P mechanic examined the airplane following the accident. They did not observe any indications of pre-accidentmechanical failure, and the fuel selector valve appeared set to the right tank. During the examination, they drained about 4 1/2 gallons of total fuel from the airplane, 3 gallons of which they determined was from the right tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2167V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2167V-2019-10-25), registration cancelled 2019-10-25, S/N 14396 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 140 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14396 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 3806.31 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 23, 2018, 2 hours before - Departed: TSP, TEHACHAPI, CA - Destination: TSP, TEHACHAPI, CA - Airport: TSP, Tehachapi Muni, runway 29, 4,040 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 19, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 173.8 total, 67.6 in this make and model, 136.5 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 15.1 in the last 30 days, 0.4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 10 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KTSP ## 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 20180830012629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180830012629A), Aug 30, 2018: Cessna 140, Tehachapi, CA, Substantial damage. On August 30, 2018, Cessna 140, N2167V experienced engine failure during climb-out on a touch and go at techachapi airport. The pilot attempted to turn back… ## Other investigations on N2167V (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 DEN67D0228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN67D0228), Feb 23, 1967: Cessna 140 (N2167V), Glenwood Spg, CO, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 11, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98198. 5.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=7765655&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=r_MKilchrist_C140_accident_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=7766196&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=INTERVIEW%20SUMMARY-FAA-Rel.pdf - Cessna 150 owner's manual (excerpt, O-200-A information) (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=7764811&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cessna%20150%20Owner_s%20Manual%20Excerpt%20O-200-A%20Information-Master-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=7765673&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=r_wreckage%20release_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 240 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=7765017&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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.