Fuel exhaustion Accident Duffy Vans RV-9A N945D,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 296670
 
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Date:Thursday 5 September 2002
Time:20:37 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic RV9 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Duffy Vans RV-9A
Owner/operator:Private
Registration: N945D
MSN: 90011
Total airframe hrs:50 hours
Engine model:Lycoming O-320
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Oxford, Ohio -   United States of America
Phase: Unknown
Nature:Private
Departure airport:Oxford-Miami University Airport, OH (OXD/KOXD)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
During a night flight, the airplane lost total engine power shortly after departure, about 15 miles from the airport. The pilot initially elected to divert to another airport 3 miles away and 2,500 feet below; however, he subsequently decided to land on a road after not being able to see the runway lights. During the landing, the airplane bounced five or six times, struck a sign, veered off the road and nosed over. The pilot had replaced the fuel gauge about 1 week prior to the accident. He had difficulty calibrating the new fuel gauge, and received assistance telephonically from the manufacturer during the calibration. The pilot believed that he had taken off with about 1/2 tank of fuel onboard. An examination of the airplane after the accident revealed that the fuel tanks were empty; however, the fuel gauge indicated 8 gallons. The source of the fuel inaccuracy was undetermined. The airplane had accumulated 11.4 hours of flight time since installation of the fuel gauge. The pilot filled the fuel tanks at 47.0 flight hours, and lost total engine power at 50.9 flight hours. A "must read" notice in the fuel gauge operating manual stated: "Do not solely rely on the FL-2 to determine the fuel level in the fuel tanks."

Probable Cause: The pilot's improper fuel calculations, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power. Factors included an inaccurate fuel gauge indication for undetermined reasons, the pilot's reliance on that indication, the night lighting conditions, and a sign alongside the forced landing road.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: NYC02LA182
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 5 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB NYC02LA182

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
14-Oct-2022 09:21 ASN Update Bot Added

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