NAVION NAVION G
Eau Claire, MI — August 25, 2009
Event Information
| Date | August 25, 2009 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN09CA559 |
| Event ID | 20090904X82756 |
| Location | Eau Claire, MI |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 42.03556, -86.46861 |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | NAVION |
| Model | NAVION G |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel management.
Full Narrative
The pilot departed the airport and the fuel selector was in the main fuel tank position. The main fuel tank contained 32.5 gallons of fuel. Approximately 5 minutes after departure, the pilot turned the fuel selector to the right tip fuel tank. After 15 minutes, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to switch fuel tanks and restart the engine; however, the attempt was unsuccessful. The pilot then elected to execute a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted terrain and the firewall buckled. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the right tip fuel tank showed "trace amounts of fuel", and the pilot stated he did not check the fuel tank levels prior to departure. The pilot stated to the FAA inspector, "Had I had another 5 gallons [of fuel] in the tip, I would have been okay." Examination of the airplane's fuel system revealed no mechanical anomalies.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.