# NTSB WPR22LA142: Barber Robert L Sonerai II L, N333BM, Jean, NV, April 3, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 3, 2022, 13:10 local (20:10 UTC) - Place: Jean, NV - Coordinates: 35.782002, -115.32004 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7820&lon=-115.3200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 104892 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104892/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104892 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA142 ## Probable cause A reported loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Barber Robert L SONERAI II L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=05659AH), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Barber Robert L SONERAI II L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=05659AH), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he added 3.8 gallons of fuel before departure but did not know the total amount of fuel on board. While en route, the pilot diverted to another airport due to strong headwinds. After passing over the airport and assessing the landing conditions, the engine sustained a loss of power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and the airplane collided with the desert terrain adjacent to the runway. A postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no evidence of a pre-impact mechanical malfunction or failure. First responders stated that a visual examination of the fuel quantity indicator showed the fuel tank was empty. This was confirmed by opening the fuel cap, visually examining the inside of the tank, and then inserting a dipstick. Although the 10-gallon fuel tank was not breached during the accident, the gascolator drain sustained damage. Due to the damage of the gascolator, it is unknown if fuel leaked out of the system following the accident. Therefore, it could not be definitively determined if the loss of power was a result of fuel exhaustion, but no other anomalies could be found. ## Factual narrative On April 03, 2022, at 1310 Pacific daylight time, a Sonerai II L, N333BM, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Jean, Nevada. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that he departed from Kingman, Arizona, with the intention of landing at his home airport in North Las Vegas, Nevada. Before the flight, he added 3.8 gallons of fuel, but did not know the total amount of fuel on board at the time of departure. While en route, the pilot opted to divert to Jean, Nevada, because of the gusty wind conditions in Kingman. During the flight, he noted that there were strong headwinds but thought he had adequate fuel for the flight. When arriving in the proximately of Jean, the pilot made a low pass over the airport to evaluate the wind conditions. While maneuvering to land on runway 20, the engine sustained a loss of power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and the airplane collided with the desert terrain about 0.5 miles north of the approach end of the runway. The Clark County Fire Department responded to the accident site. Fire department personnel stated that a visual examination of the fuel quantity indicator showed the fuel tank was empty. This was confirmed by opening the fuel cap, visually examining the inside of the tank, and then inserting a dipstick. The airplane's fuel system was a gravity-fed design where fuel flowed from an aluminum 10-gallon tank mounted in front of the instrument panel. Inside the tank there was a finger screen at the outlet and at the top of the tank was a vent output port. The port connected to a T-fitting where one clear plastic tube was routed to the instrument panel and back to the bottom of the tank. On the tube was a series of different colored tie-raps that served a fuel quantity indicator for the pilot (see Figure 1 below). The other tube on the T-fitting was routed to the bottom of the airplane and functioned as a vent. From the fuel tanks, the fuel was routed to a fuel shutoff valve and then through several fittings through the firewall to a gascolator (mounted on the engine-side of the firewall). The fuel would then continue to a fuel injector unit, where it was routed from the inlet through an orifice to the air inlet. From the inlet, the fuel-air mixture continued into the intake manifold and into each cylinder. A majority of the fuel pipe fittings had Teflon tape on the threads. Figure 1. Fuel System A postaccident examination revealed that there was no fuel onboard the airplane. The entire system remained un-breached except where the gascolator drain was compromised. The gascolator was clean and no debris was in the screen. The tapered fuel needle remained in the fuel orifice and the throttle slide was in a partially open position, consistent with near full throttle. During a postaccident examination, investigators achieved manual rotation of the crankshaft byrotation of the remaining propeller blades. Valvetrain continuity was observed, with equal lift action at each rocker assembly; oil was found in the rocker box areas on all cylinders. Investigators removed the upper spark plugs of all cylinders and they were light gray/white in color, consistent with lean to normal engine operation. A borescope examination of the cylinders revealed no foreign object damage, no evidence of detonation, and no indication of excessive oil consumption. The exhaust manifold pipes showed white residue consistent with a lean mixture. The magneto timing was consistent with normal operation. The upper spark plugs were reattached to their respective lead and rotation of the crankshaft resulted in a visible spark at each plug; the impulse couplings were audible during rotations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N333BM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N333BM-2023-12-29), registration cancelled 2023-12-29, S/N 1, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BARBER ROBERT L SONERAI II L - Registry model: [Barber Robert L SONERAI II L](https://openairdocs.org/model/barber-robert-l-sonerai-ii-l) (registry code 05659AH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Year built: 1987 - Engines: HAPI 60-2DM 60 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: KIMG, Kingman, AZ - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 0L7, Jean Airport, runway 02, 4,600 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KHND, 15 nm away - METAR: KHND 032056Z 34007KT 10SM CLR 25/00 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP114 T02500000 58019 ## 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 20220403008919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220403008919A), Apr 3, 2022: Barber Robert L SONERAI II L, Jean, NV, Destroyed. Aircraft departed the north las vegas airport, Nevada (vgt) enroute to kingman, Arizona (igm). The aircraft lost power near Jean Nevada (OL7) and had a hard… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104892. 817 KB in all. - Investigation supplemental information (item 1, PDF, 5 pages, 667 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16438609&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z%20-%20Attachment%2001%20-%20Examination%20Notes-Rel.pdf - Records of conversation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16438528&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z%20-%20Attachment%2002%20-%20Record%20of%20Conversations-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.