Pilot Debrief

GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER G 164B near Foster, NE — 2015-06-12

Final reportCEN15LA271
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Date
2015-06-12
Location
Foster, NE, USA
Aircraft
GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER G 164B
Registration
N48687
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power during a low-level aerial application flight due to fuel exhaustion following the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection that led to his assumption that sufficient fuel was on board for the flight based on his reliance on a fuel gauge that indicated the incorrect fuel level.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he departed on a local agricultural application flight with what he believed was sufficient fuel on board for 2 hours of flight. He stated that he based this assumption solely on viewing the fuel quantity gauge and did not insert a stick in the fuel tank to check the fuel amount before departing on the accident flight. About 1 hour 15 minutes into the flight, the airplane lost engine power, and the pilot subsequently conducted a forced landing on muddy and water-logged terrain. The airplane then nosed over and sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that, during a postaccident examination, the fuel quantity gauge read 1/4 full even though the fuel system was actually empty. The preflight procedures contained in the airplane's flight manual included a fuel quantity check, which was to be accomplished by opening the fuel cap and visually checking the fuel level, and a fuel gauge check to observe the fuel gauge for proper reading. The pilot did not verify the fuel quantity in accordance with these procedures before departing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not visually check fuel level before departure, relying solely on the gauge.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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