Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Yorktown, New York 10598
Friday, April 20, 2012 16:26 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was in cruise flight at 7,000 feet when the engine lost power. The pilot requested vectors to the nearest airport but determined the airplane would not reach the requested landing site. He selected a forced landing site on a corporate complex and completed the forced landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. During the descent, he stated that he performed remedial actions in accordance with the checklist and switched the fuel selector from the right tank position to the left tank. Later, the pilot stated that he did not consult a checklist, but performed emergency action items "from memory." He added that the engine would surge during the descent but would not produce sufficient power to maintain altitude. A witness stated that he saw the airplane at low altitude near the campus and described the engine sound as surging between idle and "extremely high rpm." He said that the engine sounded as though it was "starving for fuel." Examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies. The fuel selector was found in a position between the left tank and right tank detents. A detailed examination revealed continuity of the fuel system, unobstructed fuel lines and filters, and an operational fuel selector. The engine was removed from the airplane and placed in a test cell, where it started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption. The engine run revealed no anomalies that would have prevented normal operation and the production of rated power. A warning in the airplane manufacturer's Pilot's Operating Handbook stated: "POSITION [Fuel] SELECTOR IN DETENTS ONLY – NO FUEL FLOW TO ENGINE BETWEEN DETENTS" It is likely that the pilot moved the fuel selector during cruise flight but did not ensure that it was seated correctly in the detent. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power. Because the pilot did not perform the requisite emergency procedures, he did not recognize that the fuel selector was not seated properly.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper placement of the fuel selector, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to perform the published emergency procedure by the checklist.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/20/2012
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1626
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Yorktown
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 10598
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 411228N
Event Location Longitude 0734805W
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1556 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 152
Weather Observation Facility ID HPN
Elevation of weather observation facility 439
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.95
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KHPN 201956Z 16009KT 10SM FEW029 BKN040 19/08 A299
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31114
NTSB Notification Source FAA Eastern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 1 2013 5:08PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N821SM
NTSB Number ERA12LA295
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY
Aircraft Model A36
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number E-3031
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 43
Airframe Hours 1503
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name EHRENZELLER MARK
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City HOPKINTON
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01748-2638
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name EHRENZELLER MARK
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City HOPKINTON
Operator State MA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 01748-2638
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 TEB
Departure City Teterboro
Departure State NJ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OWD
Destination City Norwood
Destination State MA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 16 2013 2:37PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --