TACCHI TORELLO F VANS AIRCRAFT RV10
Folkston, GA — October 30, 2011
Event Information
| Date | October 30, 2011 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA12CA055 |
| Event ID | 20111031X61401 |
| Location | Folkston, GA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 30.79111, -82.02361 |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | TACCHI TORELLO F |
| Model | VANS AIRCRAFT RV10 |
| 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
The pilot's improper preflight planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Full Narrative
The pilot stated that prior to departing on the one-hour flight, he added 5 gallons of fuel to both left and right fuel tanks, and visually estimated the total fuel on board to be 23 gallons. Approximately 4 minutes from the destination airport, the engine began to sputter. The pilot noticed that the right fuel tank gauge indicated empty, and the left indicated one-quarter full. The pilot then switched the fuel selector from the right tank to the left, but the engine continued to sputter, and the pilot selected a field to perform a forced landing. The airplane landed between two trees, resulting in substantial damage to both left and right wings. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.
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.