ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 249857
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| Date: | Friday 16 April 2021 |
| Time: | 19:30 LT |
| Type: |  Cessna A185F Skywagon |
| Owner/operator: | Echelon Right LLC |
| Registration: | N19D |
| MSN: | 18504097 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1980 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 12825 hours |
| Engine model: | Continental IO-550D |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near North Vernon Airport (OVO/KOVO), IN -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | North Vernon Airport, IN (KOVO) |
| North Vernon, IN | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
After a 100-hour inspection, which the pilot assisted with, he conducted an operational check of the airplane, which included a run-up of the airplane. The mechanic had to leave before the inspection was complete, and the pilot installed portions of the interior which included the fuel selector handle. He then departed the airport and after retracting the landing gear and flaps, the engine lost power. During the forced landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and aft section of the fuselage.
Examination of the airplane revealed that fuel was available in the left and right fuel tanks. The examination also found that the fuel selector handle had been installed incorrectly by 90° on the fuel selector shaft. The position of the shaft as found would have restricted all fuel flow from the left and right fuel tanks. The shaft was 'keyed' such that the fuel selector handle should only be installed one way; however, the handle partially fit over the stem when not aligned with the key on the shaft and allowed the attaching screw to partially engage on the stem.
An engine test run was conducted; the engine started normally and with the engine at full throttle, the fuel selector was placed in the left, right, and both positions. The engine continued to run with no anomalies noted.
The airplane was factory equipped with a small header tank that fuel accumulated in before being fed to the engine.
The accident is consistent with the fuel selector shaft being in the off position while the selector handle pointed to the left fuel tank. Once the fuel in the airplane's header tank was exhausted, the engine lost power due to fuel starvation.
Probable Cause: The pilot's improper installation of the fuel selector handle, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB CEN21LA194
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N19D
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 17-Apr-2021 14:55 | Captain Adam | Added |
| 22-Jul-2022 19:52 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
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