Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kansas City, Missouri 64108
Saturday, October 12, 1996 11:08 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated he took off with 8 to 10 gallons of fuel which should have been enough for approximately 1 1/2 hours of flight time. Fifteen minutes after takeoff, he noticed the fuel sight gauge was indicating a low level of fuel. He reversed course to head back to the airport. He stated that fuel exhaustion occurred eight minutes later. The airplane was substantially damaged during the off airport landing in a field. Inspection revealed a total of one cup of fuel between both wing tanks and the fuel level in the center tank was below the pick-up line level. The pilot stated he later tested the fuel system and discovered that the carburetor float valve was stuck in the open position.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a stuck carburetor float valve which resulted in excessive fuel flow and ultimately fuel exhaustion. A factor related to the accident was the rough terrain on which the forced landing was made.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/12/1996
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1108
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City KANSAS CITY
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 64108
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 8
Degrees magnetic from airport 90
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1045 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID MKC
Elevation of weather observation facility 759
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1312
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 12 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1206
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:24AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N90WH
NTSB Number CHI97LA009
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Hayes
Aircraft Model LANCAIR 235
Aircraft Series Identifier LANCAIR 23
Aircraft Serial Number 101920
Certified Max Gross Weight 1695
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 24 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 37
Airframe Hours 85
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RICHARD J. CHEVALIER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12470 6TH ST.
Aircraft Owner City PARKER
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80134
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MKC
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1045
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --