Pilot Debrief

Grumman AA5 near Refugio, TX — 2018-10-12

Final reportCEN19LA007
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Date
2018-10-12
Location
Refugio, TX, USA
Airport
RFG
Aircraft
Grumman AA5
Registration
N81383
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper inflight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and the pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight when he became lost. The pilot reported that he did not understand how to navigate using the GPS that was installed in the airplane before the flight. Instead of continuing to the southeast toward the intended destination, the pilot turned south for the remainder of the flight. After flying for about 1.5 hours, the pilot became concerned about how much fuel remained and decided to land to refuel. The pilot stated that the airplane had a total loss of engine power while in the airport traffic pattern, and that he did not maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall during the turn from the base leg to final. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage during impact. Examination of the airplane revealed no fuel in the left fuel tank, about 7 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank, and less than 2 fluid ounces of combined fuel from the electric boost pump, the fuel line to the carburetor, and the carburetor fuel bowl. The pilot reported that the fuel selector valve was positioned to the left fuel tank when the loss of engine power occurred. The loss of engine power was likely due to fuel starvation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have refueled before departure instead of flying with low fuel.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 9 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents9

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