Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Wichita, Kansas
Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Location: Wichita, KS
Accident Number: CEN18LA197
Date & Time: 05/28/2018, 1210 CDT
Registration: N64176
Aircraft: FAIRCHILD(HOWARD) M 62C(PT-23A)
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel exhaustion
Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
Analysis
The private pilot reported that he filled the airplane with fuel 5 days before the accident flight. He had not flown the airplane in the intervening 5 days, and the fuel indicators were still showing that the tanks were full before the accident flight. The pilot calculated that there should have been sufficient fuel onboard for a 3-hour 15-minute-long flight. The pilot was performing flyovers at five cemeteries, which required flying holding orbits at three of the cemeteries and two passes at the other two cemeteries. He then flew back toward the departure airport to land. When the airplane was about 5 minutes from the airport, he switched fuel tanks to what appeared to be the fullest tank. He reported that the fuel level in both fuel tanks was low but that the fuel quantity indicators were showing above “E.” While on final approach, between 150 and 200 ft above the ground, the engine lost total power. He switched fuel tanks and started using the manual pump, and the engine regained power for 1 to 2 seconds before losing power again. He subsequently conducted an off-airport, forced landing in a lot about 1/8 mile from the end of the runway. The airplane touched down hard and bounced, and the right wing hit a pole. The airplane then impacted a fence and another pole before coming to rest.
The pilot used a flight tracker program, and it showed that the flight was only 2 hours 41 minutes long.
Postaccident examination of the accident site found no fuel spillage. Examination of the airplane revealed that each fuel tank contained about 1/2 cup of fuel. About a teaspoon of fuel was recovered from the engine strainer bowl. Although the pilot thought there was sufficient fuel onboard the airplane for the flight, given the evidence, it is likely that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion because the pilot miscalculated the fuel consumption rate during preflight planning.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from the pilot’s miscalculation of the fuel consumption rate during preflight planning.
Findings
Aircraft
Fuel - Fluid level (Cause)
Personnel issues
Fuel planning - Pilot (Cause)
Environmental issues
Fence/fence post - Contributed to outcome
Pole - Contributed to outcome
Factual Information
On May 28, 2018, at 1210 central daylight time, a Fairchild (Howard) M-62C (PT-23A) airplane, N64176, collided with a pole and a fence during a forced landing while on approach to land at the Westport Airport (71K), Wichita, Kansas. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated from 71K about 0930.
The pilot stated the purpose of the flight was to fly over several cemeteries in observance of Memorial Day. He performed fly-overs at five cemeteries which required flying holding orbits at three of the cemeteries and two passes at the other two cemeteries. He then flew back toward 71K to land. He stated that when he was about five minutes from 71K, he switched fuel tanks to what appeared to be the fullest tank. He reported that both fuel tanks were low, but the fuel quantity indicators were showing above "E." While on final approach at an altitude of 150 to 200 ft above the ground, the engine lost power. He switched fuel tanks, started using the wobble (manual) pump, and the engine regained power for a second or two before losing power once again. The engine regained power once again and the pilot continued using the wobble pump until committed to an off-airport landing in a storage facility lot about 1/8 mile from the end of the runway. The airplane touched down hard, bounced, and the right wing contacted a metal pole. The airplane then contacted a chain-link fence and a utility pole before coming to rest.
The pilot stated that he checked the fuel gauges before the flight and they were indicating the fuel tanks were full which is how he left the airplane five days before the accident flight. The pilot calculated he should have had about 3 hours and 15 minutes of fuel on board. The pilot used Foreflight to track his flight which indicated a flight time of 2 hours and 41 minutes. The Hobbs time indicated 2.9 hours.
A postaccident examination of the airplane was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Inspector. The inspector reported there was no fuel spill at the accident site and the fuel selector was positioned on the right fuel tank. He drained about ½ cup of fuel out of each of the fuel tanks and about a teaspoon of fuel out of the engine strainer bowl. The inspector reported the fuel gauges are on the wings and are difficult to see inflight.
History of Flight
Approach-VFR pattern final
Fuel exhaustion (Defining event)
Loss of engine power (total)
Attempted remediation/recovery
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Landing
Off-field or emergency landing
Hard landing
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 46, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 03/15/2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 05/02/2016
Flight Time: 1074 hours (Total, all aircraft), 29 hours (Total, this make and model), 1000 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 13 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 6 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: FAIRCHILD(HOWARD)
Registration: N64176
Model/Series: M 62C(PT-23A) UNDESIGNATED
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1943
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 256H0
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/01/2018, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2900 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 17 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 1391.1 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT:
Engine Model/Series: W670-16
Registered Owner: AMERICAN AIRPOWER HERITAGE FLYING MUSEUM
Rated Power: 220 hp
Operator: AMERICAN AIRPOWER HERITAGE FLYING MUSEUM
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: ICT, 1332 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 2 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1153 CDT
Direction from Accident Site: 270°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 5000 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 13 knots / 21 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 150°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 29.92 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 32°C / 18°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Wichita, KS (71K)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Wichita, KS (71K)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 0930 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class C
Airport Information
Airport: Westport (71K)
Runway Surface Type: Gravel
Airport Elevation: 1290 ft
Runway Surface Condition:
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 37.651667, -97.383889 (est)
WICHITA, KS (KWCH-DT/CNN) – A World War II-era plane crashed after taking part in Memorial Day services in Kansas.
The 1943 Fairchild PT-23 was attempting to land at Westport Airport in Wichita when its engine went out Monday.
The pilot struck a pole during the crash, breaking off a wing. He and a passenger suffered minor cuts in the accident.
Police said the plane had just finished doing flyovers to commemorate Memorial Day.
Story and video ➤ http://www.waff.com
ReplyDeleteSeems like a lot of historic airplanes have been crashed by museums and personnel.
Kind of like another government sponsored program I have read about. Hint, c182 red white blue usually trying to take off or land but crashed.
ReplyDelete