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April 25, 2001 · Steen Aero Lab Skybolt I · N14DE

Germantown, TN

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 25, 2001
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Germantown, TN
Aircraft
Steen Aero Lab Skybolt I
Tail Number
N14DE
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA01LA128

According to the pilot, as a result of his preflight walk-around inspection, he felt confident that he had at least 12 gallons of fuel on board. Since his planned flight was for about 20 minutes, and knowing fuel burn is about 8.5 gallons an hour, he felt he had adequate fuel aboard. Actually, the fuel aboard was about 4 gallons, and 10 minutes into the flight, the engine quit while he was overhead a residential area of Germantown at 1500 feet msl. He reasoned that his only alternative was a forced landing to a residential street, and during the landing, the aircraft sequentially collided with an automobile rear window with the landing gear, a utility pole and mailbox with the wings, and a street sign with the horizontal stabilizer. Postcrash examination by FAA inspectors and the pilot revealed no evidence of fuel aboard.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to conduct proper preflight planning and preparation, resulting in fuel exhaustion during cruise flight, and the subsequent emergency descent and forced landing to a residential street colliding with a vehicle, utility pole, mail box, and street sign.

Full Narrative

On April 25, 2001, at about 1625 central daylight time, a Steen Skybolt I, N14DE, registered to a private individual, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed while maneuvering near Germantown, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage, and the airline transport-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight departed a private airstrip near Germantown about 10 minutes before the accident. According to the pilot, based on 20 years of experience with the aircraft, he determined on his preflight walk around inspection that he had 1/2 tank of fuel, (12 gallons) onboard. His planned flight was 20 minutes, and with a known fuel burn of 8.5 gallons/hour, he was comfortable with the fuel. Start-up, departure, and climb to 1,500 feet agl, were normal until about 1620, when he started losing engine power. During his turn away from a populated area, the engine quit completely, and all attempts at a restart were unsuccessful. His best selection for an emergency landing was a residential street. During the emergency landing, his landing gear collided with a car rear window, the right wing collided with a utility pole, the left wing collided with a wooden mailbox, and the right stabilizer collided with a street sign. He was not injured, and he immediately selected the fuel valve to "off" for safety reasons. According to two FAA inspectors, about 1/2 pint of fuel was found in the 29-gallon fuel tank. The aircraft wreckage or the surrounding area revealed no signs of fuel or fuel spillage. Examination of the engine, firewall, and fuel system components revealed no evidence of leakage. The bottom of the fuselage revealed no signs of fuel stains. The inspectors had the pilot open the fuel valve and attempt to sump fuel out of the aft fuel drain with no results. The front fuel drain yielded about five drops of aviation fuel. The pilot stated to them that he thought he had at least 12 gallons of aviation fuel aboard, when he actually had 4 gallons aboard.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:25 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSteen Aero Lab Skybolt I
Tail NumberN14DE
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A4A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 57 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind280° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point37 C
Altimeter30.20 inHg
Observation Time22:19
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data