Fuel Starvation: Flight Design CTSW, N329CT; accident occurred November 13, 2016 near Omni Airport (LA46), Port Allen, Louisiana

Wreckage – view from the left rear. 

Wreckage – view from the right wingtip. 

Wreckage – view from the left front. 

Closeup view of propeller, nose gear, and engine cowling. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this incident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
  
http://registry.faa.gov/N329CT

Location: Port Allen, LA
Accident Number: CEN17LA041
Date & Time: 11/13/2016, 1530 CST
Registration: N329CT
Aircraft: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTSW
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel starvation
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On November 13, 2016, about 1530 central standard time, a Flight Design CTSW single engine airplane, N329CT, was substantially damaged during a forced landing shortly after takeoff from Omni Airport (LA46), Port Allen, Louisiana. The student pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at the airport about the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight.

According to the pilot, the airplane departed to the north and climbed to about 500 ft, and then turned west. About 875 ft, the engine made a "sneeze", lost power, and then the propeller stopped turning, The pilot tried to restart the engine several times, without success. During the forced landing in a sugar cane field, the left main landing gear and wing struck a dirt mound and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower front end of the fuselage, the right wing spar and leading edge, and left wing attachment fitting.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident, clean fuel was found in the fuel tanks, but the gascolator bowl was rusty and corroded. The right-wing fuel intake filter end cap was missing. An examination of the fuel lines and the fuel selector shutoff valve found soft hose-like debris in the check ball section of the valve which was obstructing fuel flow. No other defects were noted with the engine or fuel system.

Student Pilot Information

Certificate: Student
Age: 59, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied:Left 
Other Aircraft Rating(s):None 
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present:No 
Instructor Rating(s):None 
Toxicology Performed:No 
Medical Certification: Sport Pilot None
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 03/31/2016
Flight Time:

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH
Registration: N329CT
Model/Series: CTSW
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2007
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Special Light-Sport
Serial Number: 07-01-09
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 06/03/2016, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1322 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 17 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 913 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: ROTAX
ELT: C91A installed
Engine Model/Series: 912ULS
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 100 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KBTR, 76 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1553 CST
Direction from Accident Site: 88°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 11000 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 4 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 330°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.15 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C / 8°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Port Allen, LA (LA46)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Port Allen, LA (LA46)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time:  CST
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: OMNI (LA46)
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation: 24 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 05
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3500 ft / 250 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 30.532500, -91.315000 (est)