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May 27, 2021 · Phillips Ralph W VANS RV8 · N274CV

San Angelo, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 27, 2021
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
San Angelo, TX
Aircraft
Phillips Ralph W VANS RV8
Tail Number
N274CV
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN21LA243

Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported an “engine failure” to the airport tower controller. The airplane impacted terrain off the end of the runway. The airplane came to rest upright, with substantial damage to the fuselage and wings during the accident. The airplane had undergone maintenance with the installation of a new glass panel system, and the accident flight was the first flight after the installation. The avionic shop drained about 40 gallons of fuel from the tanks and added the fuel back for calibration. The installation of the glass panel also added a fuel flow transducer tothe fuel line, between the pressure side of the engine driven fuel pump and carburetor. The engine-driven fuel pump outflow fitting had two fittings installed. The 3/8’s port was capped off with an AN929 fitting. The other port had a number 4 reduced flow fitting installed in the fuel line leading to the carburetor (through the fuel flow transducer). The reduced flow fitting would have prevented sufficient fuel flow to the carburetor once the fuel in the carburetor was consumed. The accident is consistent with the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the installation of a reduced flow fitting in the fuel line to the carburetor by maintenance personnel.

Full Narrative

On May 27, 2021, about 1825 central daylight time, a Vans RV-8 airplane, N274CV, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near San Angelo, Texas. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations personal flight. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane came to rest upright, with substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the fuel tanks seemed empty but appeared to have been breached in the accident. The airplane had undergone maintenance with the installation of a Garmin G3 system, and the accident flight was the first flight after the installation. He also noted that the avionic shop drained about 40 gallons of fuel from the tanks and added the fuel back for calibration. The airplane was recovered to a salvage yard, where the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) conducted an examination. The top set of sparkplugs were removed from each cylinder, and the engine rotated by hand. Continuity through the valve train and to the accessory section was noted. The left and right magnetos were removed and, when rotated, produced a spark on each terminal. The fuel system was equipped with a fuel flow transducer located in the fuel line between the pressure side of the engine-driven fuel pump and carburetor (see figure 1). The addition of the fuel flow transducer was required to provide fuel flow reading on the new panel. Figure 1: “Red Cube” Fuel Flow Transducer The pressure side of the engine driven fuel pump outflow fitting had two fittings installed. The 3/8’s port was capped off with an AN929 fitting. The other port had a number 4 fitting installed in the fuel line (which ran to the fuel flow transducer – see figure 2 & 3). Figure 2: Fuel Line as it exited to the Engine Driven Fuel Pump Figure 3: Fuel Pump Fittings

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:25 CDT
Nearest AirportMathis Field (1nm)
Runway18
Runway Length8054 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPhillips Ralph W VANS RV8
Tail NumberN274CV
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A1A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 60 · Basc · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind190° @ 3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F
Altimeter29.87 inHg
Observation Time18:43
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data