Fuel Selector Valve Visual
Valve was in the “Main” position when IIC arrived on scene. Signs of leaking prevalent inside the cabin upon removal of interior components, and in nose gear well as depicted in the above images.
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Little Rock, Arkansas
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
https://registry.faa.gov/N1011M
Location: Fort Smith, AR
Accident Number: CEN20LA078
Date & Time: 02/09/2020, 1500 CST
Registration: N1011M
Aircraft: Navion NAVION
Aircraft Damage:Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 1 Serious, 3 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On February 9, 2020, about 1500 central standard time, a Navion G airplane, N1011M, impacted terrain during a forced landing near Fort Smith, Arkansas. The pilot, and two passengers sustained minor injuries, one passenger sustained serious injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff about 300 ft above ground level, the engine lost partial power. The pilot lowered the airplane nose and the engine continued to operate. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost total power. The pilot activated the electric fuel boost pump and engine power resumed; however, the engine lost power again within a few seconds. The pilot executed a forced landing to a grass area on airport property. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted terrain and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.
Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and a mechanic revealed that the fuel selector valve exhibited blue staining on and around the fuel selector valve area. The fuel selector valve was removed for further examination. No fuel was found in any fuel lines or components from the firewall forward to the engine. About 20 gallons of fuel were removed from the airplane fuel tanks during recovery.
A review of the aircraft records showed that an annual inspection was completed and airworthiness directive (AD) 2008-05-14, an inspection of the airplane fuel system, was complied with on February 7, 2020, at a total tachometer time of 224.25 hours. The airplane had accumulated 18.2 hours since the inspections.
The FAA inspector examined the fuel selector valve and performed vacuum tests on the valve, in accordance with Navion Service Bulletin (SB) No. 106 A, Fuel System - Inspection of the fuel system continued safe operation. Visual examination of the fuel selector valve showed blue staining, consistent with fuel, near the valve stem and inside the airplane were the fuel selector valve was mounted. Multiple vacuum tests, performed to check external and internal leakage, failed the required leak checks per the SB. The AD referred directly to the SB and stated that the fuel selector valve should be repaired or replaced if it failed the tests.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial; Private
Age: 62, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 03/21/2019
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 09/28/2019
Flight Time: 3302 hours (Total, all aircraft), 18 hours (Total, this make and model), 3091 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 74 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 35 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 18 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Navion
Registration: N1011M
Model/Series: NAVION G
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1962
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: NAV-4-2470
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 02/07/2020, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3150 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3877 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: C91 installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: IO-550N2
Registered Owner: Clear Blue Sky, LLC
Rated Power: 310 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:
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time:
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 3500 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 3500 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 10 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 180°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting:
Temperature/Dew Point:
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Precipitation
Departure Point: Fort Smith, AR (FSM)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Fort Smith, AR (FSM)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1430 CST
Type of Airspace: Class D
Airport Information
Airport: Fort Smith Regional Airport (FSM)
Runway Surface Type: N/A
Airport Elevation: 469 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Unknown
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 Serious, 2 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 3 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 33.336389, -94.367500 (est)
Location: Fort Smith, AR
Accident Number: CEN20LA078
Date & Time: 02/09/2020, 1551 CST
Registration: N1011M
Aircraft: Navion NAVION
Injuries: 1 Serious, 3 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On February 9, 2020, about 1551 central standard time, a Navion G airplane, impacted terrain during a forced landing near Fort Smith, Arkansas. The pilot, and two passengers sustained minor injuries, one passenger sustained serious injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff about 500 ft above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot activated the electric fuel boost pump, and engine power resumed; however, the engine lost power again within a few seconds. The pilot executed a forced landing to a grass area on airport property. During the forced landing, the airplane sustained damage to both wings and the fuselage.
Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a mechanic revealed the fuel selector valve showed visual signs of blue staining on and around the selector valve area. The selector valve was removed for further examination. No fuel was found in any fuel lines or components from the firewall forward to the engine fuel components. About 20 gallons of fuel were removed from the airplane during recovery.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Navion
Registration: N1011M
Model/Series: NAVION G
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: James Kelly
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site:
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction:
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility:
Altimeter Setting:
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Fort Smith, AR (FSM)
Destination: Fort Smith, AR (FSM)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious, 2 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 3 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 33.336389, -94.367500 (est)
A small-engine aircraft crashed on takeoff Sunday at the Fort Smith Regional Airport but no serious injuries were reported.
Airport Director Michael Griffin said the aircraft landed on the north-south runway and did not affect the main runway.
“It was a general aviation plane with four people on board,” Griffin wrote in an email. “Two of them had minor injuries, but nothing too serious.”
Pam Kelly, a passenger on the plane, said engine power was lost on takeoff. Kelly said, the pilot crashed the plane trying to miss the fire station and a Delta flight.
Griffin noted the Federal Aviation Administration was onsite Monday investigating and he could not provide any other details at this time.
According to the FAA’s database, the aircraft N1011M is a 1962 Navion G registered to Clear Blue Sky LLC in Fort Smith and was previously owned by a man in Miami Springs, Fla.
Clear Blue Sky LLC is registered in good standing with the Arkansas Secretary of State to James Kelly. According to its website, Clear Blue Sky is a residential management company with “intrinsic knowledge of the Orlando rental market.”
Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.swtimes.com
The airplane flew the night before and early that morning according to Flight Radar for 5 hours and 15 mins. The morning of the mishap it flew for an additional :16 mins before fuel problems. The total flight time was 5.5 hours. It had "about" 20 gals remaining according to the report above. It carries 108 usable fuel. So 88 gals to go 5.5 hours. 16 GPH.
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