Summary
On September 29, 2017, a Vans RV7 (N712RL) was involved in an incident near Itasca, TX. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
The pilot reported that during his preflight inspection, he perceived both fuel tanks were full. Based on previous flights, full fuel tanks allowed for about five hours of endurance. About four hours after departure, the pilot noticed a low fuel quantity on cockpit gages, but continued the flight toward the planned destination airport. Several minutes later, the engine lost power and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane impacted a power line and nosed-over, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage.
Postaccident examination revealed the airplane fuel tanks contained no useable fuel. Following the accident, the pilot stated he should have landed earlier to refuel.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN17CA371. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N712RL.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
The pilot reported that during his preflight inspection, he perceived both fuel tanks were full. Based on previous flights, full fuel tanks allowed for about five hours of endurance. About four hours after departure, the pilot noticed a low fuel quantity on cockpit gages, but continued the flight toward the planned destination airport. Several minutes later, the engine lost power and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane impacted a power line and nosed-over, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage.
Postaccident examination revealed the airplane fuel tanks contained no useable fuel. Following the accident, the pilot stated he should have landed earlier to refuel. He also discovered that a co-owner had not filled the fuel tanks after the previous flight, as he expected.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN17CA371