Pilot Debrief

CHAMPION 8KCAB near Wahiawa, HI — 2013-08-28

Final reportWPR13LA389
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Date
2013-08-28
Location
Wahiawa, HI, USA
Airport
PHHI
Aircraft
CHAMPION 8KCAB
Registration
N413JJ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, shortly after he completed an aerobatic maneuver and while the airplane was in cruise flight about 4,000 ft above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a turn back toward the nearest airport. When he realized that the airplane would be unable to reach the airport, he initiated a forced landing in a field. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over and then came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination of the airplane the following day revealed that there was fuel in the header tank, but the quantity of fuel in the main tanks could not be determined because the airplane was inverted. Several days after the accident and during the airplane recovery, a small amount of fuel was observed in each main tank. It could not be determined if fuel had leaked from the tanks while the airplane was inverted. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was test run at various power settings with no anomalies noted.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have ensured adequate fuel before flight to prevent engine power loss.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • 13 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents13

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