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March 28, 2025 · Ruys Nicholas G RV-8 · N8EV

Bennettsville, SC

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 28, 2025
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Bennettsville, SC
Aircraft
Ruys Nicholas G RV-8 (1999)
Tail Number
N8EV
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA25LA162

As the pilot prepared for the accident flight he observed an unquantified amount of fuel in the airplane’s fuel tanks and assumed that the airplane had been fully refueled after his request to the airport fuel provider 5 days prior. He subsequently reset the airplane’s fuel totalizer to indicate full fuel tanks and departed. About 1.5 hours into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of about 8,000 ft. mean sea level, the airplane’s engine lost power completely. He diverted towards a nearby airport and made a series of descending turns to lose altitude. When he made his turn to a 1-mile final approach to the runway, he had lost too much altitude and made a forced landing in a field ¼-mile off the approach end of the runway. The left and right main landing gear separated from the fuselage during the landing and the fuselage and wings sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that both fuel tanks were absent of fuel. The examination otherwise found no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. According to the fuel provider at the departure airport, they had no record indicating that the airplane had been serviced with fuel prior to the accident pilot’s departure. Given this information, it is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel exhaustion.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent forced landing.

Full Narrative

As the pilot prepared for the accident flight he observed an unquantified amount of fuel in the airplane’s fuel tanks and assumed that the airplane had been fully refueled after his request to the airport fuel provider 5 days prior. He subsequently reset the airplane’s fuel totalizer to indicate full fuel tanks and departed. About 1.5 hours into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of about 8,000 ft. mean sea level, the airplane’s engine lost power completely. He diverted towards a nearby airport and made a series of descending turns to lose altitude. When he made his turn to a 1-mile final approach to the runway, he had lost too much altitude and made a forced landing in a field ¼-mile off the approach end of the runway. The left and right main landing gear separated from the fuselage during the landing and the fuselage and wings sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that both fuel tanks were absent of fuel. The examination otherwise found no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. According to the fuel provider at the departure airport, they had no record indicating that the airplane had been serviced with fuel prior to the accident pilot’s departure. Given this information, it is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel exhaustion.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:45 EDT
Nearest AirportMarlboro County Jetport (1nm WSW)
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRuys Nicholas G RV-8
Tail NumberN8EV
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360 A1A · Reciprocating · 200
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 51 · Second Class · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point45 F / 45 F
Altimeter30.38 inHg
Observation Time08:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data