Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hyannis, Massachusetts 02601
Saturday, August 5, 2006 12:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot of the Champion 7KCAB, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane, and estimated the fuel level by observing the fuel gauges, checking the fuel computer, and "sticking [his] finger in the tank." He did not visually check the amount of fuel in the fuel tanks. The pilot then departed on a banner towing flight, and after 40 minutes of flight time the engine lost total power. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to the water below, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. Examination of the fuel tanks after the airplane was recovered from the water revealed that the right tank was empty, and the left tank contained about 1/8 inch of liquid spread across the bottom of the tank. Following the accident, the pilot learned that during the previous flight the fuel computer had been reset to indicate full fuel. Following that flight, the airplane was not serviced with fuel.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/5/2006
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1250
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Hyannis
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02601
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 413818N
Event Location Longitude 0701636W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20665
NTSB Notification Source NEROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 29 2006 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7533F
NTSB Number NYC06CA195
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Champion
Aircraft Model 7KCAB
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 273-70
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Dylan Aviation Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Sandwich
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
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) Banner Tow
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PYM
Departure City Pylmouth
Departure State MA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PYM
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 7 2006 10:06AM
User who most recently changed record ANDJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --