Pilot Debrief

Cosmos Phase II near Lake Havasu City, AZ — 2019-12-22

Final reportWPR20CA056
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Date
2019-12-22
Location
Lake Havasu City, AZ, USA
Aircraft
Cosmos Phase II
Registration
N5057Z
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from the pilot's inadequate preflight fuel inspection.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while the trike was at cruise flight about 800 ft above ground level, the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine to no avail and then initiated a landing in open desert. During the landing roll, the trike impacted a large boulder. Postaccident examination of the trike revealed that it had run out of fuel. The pilot added that the trike was not equipped with a fuel quantity gauge and that the only way to verify the fuel level was to visually look in the fuel tank. Additionally, he thought he had a full tank of fuel before takeoff. The trike sustained substantial damage to the forward upright wing support tubes. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the trike that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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