Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's improper in-flight fuel management and his failure to switch the fuel selector to the “both” position in accordance with the Before Landing checklist, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On December 21, 2016, about 1020 eastern standard time, a Cessna 175C airplane, N8381T, impacted a fence post and terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on approach to the Holmes County Airport (10G), Millersburg, Ohio. The pilot sustained a minor injury and the passenger was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by private individuals under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Davis Airport (W50), Laytonsville, Maryland, about 0700 and was destined for 10G.The pilot reported that he conducted a "thorough preflight" inspection before takeoff from W50. The fuel samples drained from the airplane fuel system did not contain any contamination. After takeoff, the pilot switched to the left fuel tank for the cruise portion of the flight. About 5 miles from 10G, he completed the before landing checklist. However, he "failed to position the fuel selector to [the] both" position at that time, which "set the stage for fuel exhaustion." On final approach, about 1/3 of a mile from the runway about 1,600 ft mean sea level, the engine lost power. He checked the fuel selector, found it still set to the left tank and changed it to the right tank. He subsequently executed a forced landing to an open area at the base of a hill. The pilot stated that no mechanical malfunctions or failures preceded the accident.
The airplane came to rest adjacent to a wire mesh fence. The nose landing gear separated, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the engine mount and firewall were deformed during the forced landing. The right wing was partially separated from the fuselage at the aft spar attachment. The right wing also exhibited a leading edge dent consistent with impact to a fence post. The left wing was deformed upward near the wing tip consistent with ground contact due to the collapsed landing gear.
The airplane owner's manual specified that the fuel selector should be set to the "both on" position before landing.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN17LA060