Sturgis Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sturgis, Kentucky 42459
Sunday, July 2, 2006 11:48 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was in cruise flight about 2,500 feet, when the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot during the descent, but could not restore engine power. In close proximity to the ground, the pilot determined that the airplane would not clear the power lines in its path, turned away from the power lines, and noted that the airspeed was "under a hundred" as he initiated the turn. The pilot could not recall the remainder of the flight, and stated that his next recollection was waking up in the wreckage. After the accident, the engine was placed in a test cell and started, but it would not sustain operation without application of auxiliary fuel pressure. The engine was stopped, and examination revealed that the engine-driven fuel pump gasket was leaking, and the pump displayed considerable fuel staining on its exterior. Tightening of the pump produced the same results. The engine-driven fuel pump was removed, and replaced by a slave pump. The engine then started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption with no application of auxiliary fuel pressure.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power due to a leaking fuel pump gasket.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/2/2006
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1148
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Sturgis
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 42459
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 373216N
Event Location Longitude 0875704W
Event Location Airport Sturgis Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KTWT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 372
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1155 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID KEHR
Elevation of weather observation facility 386
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.17
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22936
NTSB Notification Source SOU REGION FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 2 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 30 2008 4:08PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Louisville, KY

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N91686
NTSB Number NYC06LA165
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name North American
Aircraft Model Navion
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number NAV-4-174
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3256
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Ronald Titzer
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8001 N. Green River Rd.
Aircraft Owner City Evansville
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 47725
Operator is an individual? Yes
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 CUL
Departure City CARMI
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1128
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 1M9
Destination City CADIZ
Destination State KY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency descent/landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 31 2007 2:34PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --