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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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November 5, 1987 · Globe GC-1B · N78169

Beaufort, SC

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 5, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Beaufort, SC
Aircraft
Globe GC-1B
Tail Number
N78169
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL88LA028

THE AIRPLANE ENGINE LOST PWR AT CRUISE AND THE PLT MADE A FORCED LNG IN A SALT-WATER MARSH. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLT WAS FERRYING THE ACFT TO ANOTHER ARPT TO HAVE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE, WHICH WAS STUCK IN THE AUX TANK POSITION. THE AUX TANK WAS NOT FULL PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE, THE AUX TANK RAN DRY AND THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH THE SELECTOR VALVE TO THE MAIN TANKS WHICH CONTAINED FUEL. EXAMINATION OF THE VALVE MECHANISM REVEALED THAT SET SCREWS ON THE SELECTOR VALVE SHAFT HAD LOOSENED, WHICH ALLOWED THE SELECTOR HANDLE TO BE MOVED WITHOUT REPOSITIONING THE SELECTOR VALVE. THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 12 MILES SHORT OF THE DESTINATION ARPT. ACCORDING TO FAA RECORDS, NO FERRY PERMIT WAS ISSUED FOR THE FLT.

Full Narrative

THE AIRPLANE ENGINE LOST PWR AT CRUISE AND THE PLT MADE A FORCED LNG IN A SALT-WATER MARSH. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLT WAS FERRYING THE ACFT TO ANOTHER ARPT TO HAVE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE, WHICH WAS STUCK IN THE AUX TANK POSITION. THE AUX TANK WAS NOT FULL PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE, THE AUX TANK RAN DRY AND THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH THE SELECTOR VALVE TO THE MAIN TANKS WHICH CONTAINED FUEL. EXAMINATION OF THE VALVE MECHANISM REVEALED THAT SET SCREWS ON THE SELECTOR VALVE SHAFT HAD LOOSENED, WHICH ALLOWED THE SELECTOR HANDLE TO BE MOVED WITHOUT REPOSITIONING THE SELECTOR VALVE. THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 12 MILES SHORT OF THE DESTINATION ARPT. ACCORDING TO FAA RECORDS, NO FERRY PERMIT WAS ISSUED FOR THE FLT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 EST
Nearest Airport12nm ENE
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGlobe GC-1B
Tail NumberN78169
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300-A · Reciprocating · 145
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 64 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind50° @ 2 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data