N654U

Substantial
None

GRUMMAN G164S/N: 390

Accident Details

Date
Thursday, April 22, 2010
NTSB Number
ERA10CA240
Location
Hampton, GA
Event ID
20100425X31208
Coordinates
33.386665, -84.326110
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

A total loss of engine power during a go-around due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight planning.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N654U
Make
GRUMMAN
Serial Number
390
Engine Type
Turbo-shaft
Year Built
1966
Model / ICAO
G164G64T
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
AIRSIGN INC
Address
2451 NE 114TH AVE
Status
Deregistered
City
BRONSON
State / Zip Code
FL 32621-6051
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot stated that he departed on the 2.5-hour banner tow flight with 3 hours of fuel on board. After completing the banner tow, he began the return flight to the airport and noticed that the fuel level was "lower than expected." The pilot attempted to conserve fuel by "slowing down and bringing the mixture back." After dropping the banner at the destination airport, the pilot applied full power to conduct a go-around, and the engine "lost power." The pilot attempted to land in the grass past the end of the runway, but had "too much momentum." The airplane traveled down an embankment, contacted a ditch, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures. The horizontal stabilizer and rudder sustained substantial damage. Postaccident inspection by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuel tanks contained a "very little trace" of fuel.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA10CA240