Accident Rans S-6ES N213KT,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 286935
 
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Date:Friday 5 June 2009
Time:13:25 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic COY2 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Rans S-6ES
Owner/operator:
Registration: N213KT
MSN: 07041600
Total airframe hrs:82 hours
Engine model:Rotax 912 ULS
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Williamsburg, Michigan -   United States of America
Phase: Standing
Nature:Private
Departure airport:Houghton Lake-Roscommon County - Blodgett Memorial Airport, MI (KHTL)
Destination airport:Traverse City-Cherry Capital Airport, MI (TVC/KTVC)
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The amateur-built airplane departed on the cross-country flight with 12 gallons of fuel. The left and right wing tanks contained 5 and 7 gallons of fuel, respectively. The outbound flight leg was completed without any reported problems. The pilot did not refuel before departing on the return flight. On the return flight, about 8 miles from the destination airport, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot was unable restart the engine and subsequently performed a forced landing into a forest clearing. The outboard half of the left wing was damaged during the landing when it impacted a tree. After the accident, the right fuel tank still contained 7 gallons of fuel. The left fuel tank was void of any usable fuel. Examination of the fuel tanks did not reveal any ruptures or breaches of any kind. The airplane was not equipped with a fuel tank selector. The output fuel lines for the right and left fuel tanks fed into a T-fitting which combined the fuel flow into a single line that serviced the engine. The output fuel lines from each tank were secured to airframe structural tubing with nylon cable-ties. The output fuel line from the right tank was pinched closed where one of the cable-ties was installed, restricting the fuel flow from the right tank. According to the pilot/builder, he finished installing wingtip navigation and strobe lights about 1.4 hours flight time before the accident. During the light installation, he routed and secured the associated electrical wiring in the same area as the fuel tank output lines. The pilot/builder stated that he may have tightened the fuel line cable-tie while he installed the navigation/strobe lights.

Probable Cause: The pilot/builder's improper installation of the fuel line cable-tie, which resulted in fuel starvation and the loss of engine power.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: CEN09CA338
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 4 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB CEN09CA338

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
03-Oct-2022 18:17 ASN Update Bot Added

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