# NTSB WPR24LA294: Luscombe 8, N71899, Bend, OR, August 30, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 30, 2024, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Bend, OR · open field with obstacles - Coordinates: 44.094561, -121.20022 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0946&lon=-121.2002&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: 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 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 195054 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA294 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195054/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195054 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA294 ## Probable cause A failure of the left fuel valve, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power. ## 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: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057310): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057310/cases.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057310/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=8190120), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he departed with full fuel tanks, which should have provided about 3.5 hours of endurance. While enroute, the pilot noted the fuel levels in the two fuel tanks were uneven and were draining faster than expected and that the left fuel gauge appeared lower than the right gauge. The pilot had difficulty monitoring the airplane’s fuel levels because he perceived the fuel gauges to be inaccurate and the needles were bouncing. As the airplane approached the destination airport at the conclusion of the 2.5 hour flight, the engine suffered a total loss of power. The pilot performed a forced landing in a field, during which the airplane impacted a fence and came to rest inverted. As a result, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. Postaccident photos revealed the lower cabin insulation was fuel soaked, and fuel staining was observed beneath the left fuel valve. The pilot reported that both fuel tanks were devoid of fuel after he impacted the ground. When fuel was fed into the airplane’s left fuel line after the accident, the left fuel valve began to leak from around the valve shaft. Figure 1: The left fuel valve and fuel system diagram. Based on the available information it is likely that the airplane lost an unknown quantity of fuel due to a leak in the left fuel valve, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71899](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71899), registered now, S/N 3326, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8 (A) - Registry model: [Silvaire LUSCOMBE 8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/silvaire-luscombe-8a) (registry code 8190120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3326 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 1557 - Engines: Continental C-85 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 22, 2024 - Departed: LWS, Lewiston, ID - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: BDN, Bend Muni - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review March 12, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,800 total, 340 in this make and model, 2,800 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KBDN - METAR: KBDN 302015Z AUTO VRB05KT 10SM CLR 33/M08 A3015 RMK AO2 ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 8, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195054. 35.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 32.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17701347&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Flattened_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18401150&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RoC-%20David%20Rudd-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17714664&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array%20temp-Rel.pdf - Video file (item 4, MOV, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17715495&FileExtension=mov&FileName=Video-Rel.mov 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.