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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

August 27, 2012 · Waco UPF-7 · N32011

Jim Falls, WI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 27, 2012
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Jim Falls, WI
Aircraft
Waco UPF-7
Tail Number
N32011
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN12LA582

During a local proficiency flight, throughout which the pilot had the fuel selector set to its “both” position, the airplane’s engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and performed a forced landing, during which the airplane's left landing gear impacted an obstacle and the airplane skidded sideways and nosed over. The pilot stated that initially he did not observe fuel leaking from either fuel tank vent after the accident. However, after he opened and resealed the tank caps, the pilot noticed fuel leaking from the right fuel tank vent, consistent with an existing fuel vent obstruction having been dislodged. Subsequent examination revealed no usable fuel in the left fuel tank and 20 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank. A postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any other anomalies that would have caused a loss of engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause

The blockage of the right fuel tank vent, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

Full Narrative

On August 27, 2012, about 1345 central daylight time, a Waco UPF-7 airplane, N32011, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power while in cruise near Jim Falls, Wisconsin. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial wing damage. The airplane was registered to Minocqua Holdings Ltd. and was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a VFR flight plan. The local flight originated from the Rosenbaum Field Airport, near Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, about 1150. According to the pilot’s accident report, he visually confirmed that the fuel tanks were full before departing on the proficiency flight. The pilot observed that fuel had expanded and overflowed through the right tank vent onto the upper wing and fuselage, which was cleaned from the wing by the pilot. He had the fuel tank selector valve set on the "Both" position before to departure. After two hours of flight, the airplane had a loss of engine power. The pilot immediately applied carburetor heat, which restored engine power for about 10 seconds, and he verified that the fuel tank selector valve was set to the both position. The engine subsequently had a total loss of power where the pilot could obtain short bursts of power by rocking the pitch attitude of the aircraft up and down. The pilot selected an alfalfa field for the forced landing. The airplane’s left landing gear impacted a post and the landing gear separated from the airplane. The airplane then skidded 40 to 50 feet and slid sideways due to separated left landing gear. The airplane rolled up on its nose and right wing tip. The pilot stated, "Upon exiting I did not observe any fuel leakage from either tank cap or vent." After approximately 20 to 30 minutes, he observed that the fuel tank vents had no sign of leakage from either vent. He loosened each fuel cap and found that the left tank did not contain any fuel while the right tank did contain fuel. The pilot subsequently returned to the airplane and observed that the vent was now leaking. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage. He indicated that approximately 20 gallons of fuel was reported to have been recovered from the airplane. The inspector did not find any anomalies that would have caused the loss of engine power. The pilot’s safety recommendation stated that the fuel cap should be removed and checked by blowing into the vent pipe to verify the vent is open during the preflight. At 1356, the recorded weather at the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport, near Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was: Wind 350 degrees at 8 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 29 degrees C; dew point 11 degrees C; altimeter 30.09 inches of mercury.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:45 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftWaco UPF-7
Tail NumberN32011
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCont Motor · R-670-6A · Reciprocating · 250
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 67 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind350° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52
Altimeter30.09 inHg
Observation Time18:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data