# NTSB WPR23LA316: Remos Acft Gmbh Flugzeugbau Remos GX, N72GX, Henderson, NV, August 10, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 10, 2023, 06:40 local (13:40 UTC) - Place: Henderson, NV - Coordinates: 35.84257, -115.24302 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8426&lon=-115.2430&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 192878 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA316 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192878/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192878 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA316 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to ensure there was adequate fuel onboard before departure, which led to a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Remos Acft Gmbh Flugzeugbau REMOS GX, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=060006H), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Remos Acft Gmbh Flugzeugbau REMOS GX, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=060006H), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Remos Acft Gmbh Flugzeugbau REMOS GX, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=060006H), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Remos Acft Gmbh Flugzeugbau REMOS GX, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=060006H), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Remos Acft Gmbh Flugzeugbau REMOS GX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=060006H), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The accident flight was an introductory lesson for the student. After departure, the flight instructor began to demonstrate basic maneuvers. About 15 minutes into the flight, the engine began sputter. He noted that the fuel gauges indicated that the tank was empty. The engine lost complete power and the flight instructor performed an off-airport landing and nosed over after encountering a ditch. The fuel tank was found empty at the accident site. A postaccident examination of the fuel system revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Because the fuel system was intact and there was no evidence of any leaks, it is likely that the instructor was mistaken about the fuel quantity at takeoff and the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative On August 10, 2023, about 0640 Pacific daylight time, a Remos GX, N72GX, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Henderson, Nevada. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The accident flight was an introductory lesson for the student. The flight instructor stated that, before departure, he thought that the airplane had 7.5 gallons of fuel onboard, which would have been equivalent to about 1 hour and 30 minutes of flight time. He departed to the south and began to demonstrate basic maneuvers. After completing around 3 turns, which occurred about 15 minutes into the flight, the engine sputtered. The flight instructor turned toward a dry lakebed and began troubleshooting. The engine continued to sputter and was losing power. The engine instruments showed nothing unusual, but he noted that the fuel gauge indicated that the tank was empty. The engine lost complete power and the flight instructor glided toward a dirt road. The airplane touched down on the road and the airplane nosed over after encountering a ditch. After egressing the airplane, the flight instructor verified that there was no fuel in the visual fuel tube, indicating there was no fuel in the system. An examination was performed by a mechanic under the auspice of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The mechanic removed the seats, and panels in the cabin were opened to access the fuel tank and fuel lines. No defects or evidence of leaks were found. The fuel cap was secure, and the fuel filler cap O-ring was present and in good condition. No evidence of a leak was found on the fuselage or tail behind the fuel filler cap. The mechanic sumped the fuel tank, revealing an operable sump valve and no signs of leakage or damage. There was a small amount of "unusable" fuel in the tank. A visual inspection of the fuselage fuel lines, and the fuel shutoff valve revealed no defects or evidence of leaks. Upon inspecting fuel lines forward of the firewall to carburetors, no anomalies were found. The mechanic removed the carburetor’s fuel bowls and they were empty. Removal of the lower spark plugs revealed they were light grey, consistent with a lean engine operation. The examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N72GX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N72GX-2026-10-17), registration cancelled 2026-10-17, S/N 275, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: REMOS ACFT GMBH FLUGZEUGBAU REMOS GX - Registry model: [Remos Acft Gmbh Flugzeugbau REMOS GX](https://openairdocs.org/model/remos-acft-gmbh-flugzeugbau-remos-gx) (registry code 060008W) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 275 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 1462 - Engines: Rotax 912 UL 100 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Whitair LLC - Registered owner: Whitair LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 29, 2023, 61 hours before - Departed: HND, Henderson, NV - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 17, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,486 total, 167 in this make and model, 1,276 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KHND, 10 nm away - METAR: KHND 101356Z 18006KT 10SM CLR 29/13 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP114 T02890133 ## 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 20230810016299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230810016299A), Aug 10, 2023: Remos Acft Gmbh Flugzeugbau REMOS GX, Jean, NV, Substantial damage. Arriving at the scene, the aircraft crashed and landed in an open field resting in the dirt. The nose landing gear was collapsed under the belly of the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192878. 13.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 12.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16459718&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=PILOTOPERATOR%20AIRCRAFT%20ACCIDENTINCIDENT%20REPORT_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airplane examination statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16458662&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Exam_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photograph (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 232 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16458672&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=C-Form%20Photos-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.