Camilla-Mitchell County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Talbotton, Georgia 31836
Sunday, March 18, 2007 14:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to a witness, he recalled that the pilot was at the airport inquiring about the purchase of fuel. The witness stated that the pilot wanted to top off his right main fuel tank, and it required 9.1 gallons of fuel. The airplane was later found in a heavily wooded area, and the propeller exhibited no evidence of rotation. During the examination of the airplane it was noted that the right main tank fuel line was disconnected at the engine fuel intake line. During inspection of this fitting it was noted that the o-ring seal was very brittle, and the locking mechanism could not lock the fuel line into the engine fuel line fitting. This would have caused a restriction of fuel to the engine therefore causing fuel starvation, and a subsequent loss of engine power. After the accident, fuel was supplied to the engine and a test-run was successfully completed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the right main fuel line, resulting in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/18/2007
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Talbotton
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31836
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 324412N
Event Location Longitude 0843493W
Event Location Airport CAMILLA-MITCHELL COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CXU
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 100
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 175
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1251 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 273
Weather Observation Facility ID KCSG
Elevation of weather observation facility 397
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
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) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.9
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 --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23807
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communication Center
NTSB Notification Date Mar 18 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2008 11:48AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Atlanta FSDO-11

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7XS
NTSB Number ATL07LA054
Missing Aircraft Indicator Y
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 James Walter
Aircraft Model Hornet
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 003
Certified Max Gross Weight 630
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 242.2
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Julian A. Carlson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City ST. Paul
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55128
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Julian A. Carlson
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City St. Paul
Operator State MN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 55128
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 CXU
Departure City CAMILLA
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 21D
Destination City ST PAUL
Destination State MN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Descent - uncontrolled
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 16 2008 8:14AM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --