Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Okeechobee, Florida 34974
Friday, November 1, 1991 9:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER TAKEOFF WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR POSITIONED TO THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANK, THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION IN THAT TANK. THE PLT REPOSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE MAIN FUEL TANK POSITION WHICH CONTAINED AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL, BUT THE ENG STARTED ONLY MOMENTARILY, THEN QUIT. THE PILOT LANDED THE ACFT GEAR UP IN A FIELD. EXAM OF THE ACFT BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR REVEALED THAT A RUBBER FUEL LINE WHICH CONNECTS THE MAIN TANK TO THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS BLOCKED BY CONTAMINANTS. THE PLT HAD IN THE PAST OPERATED THE ENG USING AUTOMOTIVE FUEL WITHOUT AN STC. HE WAS ALSO AWARE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THAT THE ENG WOULD LOSE POWER WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR POSITIONED TO THE MAIN TANK.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

OPERATION BY THE OWNER/PILOT-IN-COMMAND WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT AND FUEL STARVATION DUE TO A BLOCKED FUEL LINE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/1/1991
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City OKEECHOBEE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34974
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 11
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1737
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45614
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:51AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8631H
NTSB Number MIA92LA021
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 NORTH AMERICAN
Aircraft Model NAVION
Aircraft Series Identifier NAVION
Aircraft Serial Number NAV-4-596
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 22 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 22
Airframe Hours 3099
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SWARTZ, GRANT L.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 13284 S.W. 144 PARKWAY
Aircraft Owner City OKEECHOBEE
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34974
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SWARTZ, GRANT L.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 13284 S.W. 144 PARKWAY
Operator City OKEECHOBEE
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 34974
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 No
Departure Airport Code 00FL
Departure City OKEECHOBEE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 905
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SEF
Destination City SEBRING
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --