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August 31, 2018 · Cessna 140 Undesignat · N2167V

Tehachapi, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 31, 2018
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Tehachapi, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 140 Undesignat (1947)
Tail Number
N2167V
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR18LA246

During the preflight inspection, the pilot determined that the left fuel tank was empty and the right tank contained 4 gallons of fuel (capacity 12 1/2 gallons). After discovering that the airport fuel pumps were inoperative, the pilot decided to proceed with the flight and remain in the airport traffic pattern. The pilot performed a series of touch-and-go takeoff and landings and during the initial climb phase of the fifth takeoff, the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted a 180° turn back to the runway, during which the airplane impacted the taxiway, resulting in substantial damage. Due to the airplane's vintage, operational and performance details such as fuel consumption and unusable fuel quantity were unavailable; however, a placard on the fuel gauges indicated that takeoff should not be attempted if the tank was filled to just under 1/4 of its capacity. It is likely that the airplane consumed the remainder of the usable fuel during the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the total loss of engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power during the initial climb.

Full Narrative

On August 30, 2018, at 1902 Pacific daylight time a Cessna 140, N2167V, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Tehachapi, California. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that during the preflight inspection, she utilized a dipstick and determined that the left fuel tank was empty and the right tank contained 4 gallons of fuel. She taxied the airplane to the fuel pumps, but upon arrival, discovered that they were inoperative. Based on fuel consumption during previous flights, she concluded that she had enough fuel for 30 minutes of flight, and decided to proceed with the flight and remain in the traffic pattern for runway 29. The pilot performed a series of touch-and-go takeoff and landings. About 20 minutes into the flight, during the fifth landing roll, she decided to perform one more takeoff. Shortly after rotation, about 50 ft above ground level, the engine lost total power. With limited runway available, and hangars to the left and a busy highway to the right, she decided to attempt a 180° left turn back to the runway. During the turn, the airplane struck the adjacent taxiway to the south, its left main landing gear collapsed, and it came to rest left wing down. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the high-wing airplane was manufactured in 1947 and purchased by the pilot in May 2018. It was originally equipped with a Continental C-90 engine and refitted with a Continental O-200-A engine in October 2000. The airplane was equipped with 12 ½-gallon fuel tanks in each wing, both fitted with a mechanical direct reading fuel quantity gauge, installed at the wing roots and visible within the cabin. The fuel gauges were placarded with graduations noting F [full], 3/4, 1/2, and 1/4 tank capacity. The area below the 1/4 marking was shaded red in color with the marking, "NO TAKE OFF." Fuel was gravity-fed from the tanks to a tank selector valve mounted on the cabin floor. The selector valve provided settings for fuel flow from either the right or left tank, shut-off, and a "both" position to provide fuel flow from both tanks simultaneously. The tanks were interconnected with a vent line. Due to the vintage of the airplane, limited operational and performance details were available, and useable fuel and fuel consumption with the equipped O-200-A engine could not be confirmed. According to the 1969 Cessna 150(J) Owner's Manual, the Continental O-200-A engine consumed between 3.0 and 6.4 gallons of fuel per hour while flying at an altitude of 5,000 feet msl. The manual estimated the fuel used during takeoff and climb at sea level was 0.6 gallons, and 1.6 gallons from sea level to 5,000 ft. The climb consumption included allowances for engine warm-up and takeoff. An FAA inspector and an A&P mechanic examined the airplane following the accident. They did not observe any indications of pre-accident mechanical failure, and the fuel selector valve appeared set to the right tank. During the examination, they drained about 4 1/2 gallons of total fuel from the airplane, 3 gallons of which they determined was from the right tank.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:02 PDT
Nearest AirportTehachapi Muni (0nm WNW)
Runway29
Runway Length4040 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 140 Undesignat
Tail NumberN2167V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200-A · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 28 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind310° @ 10 kt, gusting 14 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 45 C
Altimeter30.09 inHg
Observation Time02:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data