Fuel Exhaustion: Aviat A-1C-180 Husky, N354BM; accident occurred July 05, 2015 in Clermont County, Ohio

Airplane Wreckage After Recovery Right Side

Airplane Wreckage After Recovery Left Side

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

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Cincinnati, Ohio

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/N354BM

Location: Cincinnati, OH
Accident Number: CEN15LA303 
Date & Time: 07/05/2015, 1740 EDT
Registration: N354BM
Aircraft: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1C-180
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel exhaustion
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On July 5, 2015, about 1740 eastern daylight time, an Aviat Aircraft Inc., A1C-180 Husky airplane, N354BM, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Cincinnati, Ohio. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the Clermont County Airport (I69), Batavia, Ohio, at 1730, and its destination was the Cincinnati Municipal Airport (LUK), Cincinnati, Ohio.

The pilot reported that after practicing stop and go short field landings at I69, the pilot departed for LUK. After departure, the pilot turned the airplane to the left, climbed to 1,800 ft mean sea level (about 950 ft above ground level), reduced power to 40% to 45% for slow flight, and activated the Lean-of-Peak assist feature of the JPI EDM930 Engine Instrument. As he leaned the mixture and watched for the first cylinder to reach peak exhaust gas temperature, a Fuel Flow Sensor malfunction indicator light appeared on the EDM930. The pilot subsequently enriched the mixture, but the sensor malfunction indication continued, and the engine lost power. After attempting engine restart procedures and applying carburetor heat, the engine did not respond, so the pilot set up for a forced landing to a golf course. During the landing roll, the right wing tip and right elevator struck a tree resulting in structural damage. The airplane came to rest upright and the pilot evacuated uninjured.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, examination of the engine and airframe at the accident site did not reveal any mechanical or fuel delivery problems. All engine controls were functioning properly and oil quantity was normal. Additionally, the fuel tanks were not damaged and there was no indication of fuel leaking at the accident site. The aircraft was equipped with two 26-gallon (25 usable) fuel tanks in each wing. According to the pilot, the aircraft burned about 10 gallons per hour and the last amount of fuel put on the aircraft was 13.4 gallons, the day before the accident. The aircraft accumulated about 3.1 hours of flight time since the refueling.

At the accident site, the JPI EDM930 system was powered up and the "fuel remaining" indicated 17.6 gallons. However, after the fuel was drained from the left wing, approximately 2 gallons were recovered from the tank. The pilot reported that he did not physically check the wing tank fuel quantity tubes that were in the cockpit, or "dip" the fuel tanks to verify fuel quantity. Also, the pilot stated that he was "preoccupied" with trying to obtain the "rich to peak" fuel burn on the EDM930 while the engine began to lose power, and he may not have noticed the engine was losing power until it actually quit.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 58
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 05/14/2013
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 07/13/2013
Flight Time:  1015.5 hours (Total, all aircraft), 517.6 hours (Total, this make and model), 907.5 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 18.6 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 7.5 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3.6 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC
Registration: N354BM
Model/Series: A-1C-180 UNDESIGNATED
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2011
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 3132
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 06/06/2014, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2200 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 561 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: C91 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-360-A1P
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power:180 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: I69, 843 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 4 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1730 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 235°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 12000 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.08 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 24°C / 18°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Clermont, OH (I69)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Cincinnati, OH (LUK)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1730 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

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: 39.031944, -84.272500