Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fowler's Bluff, Florida 32626
Friday, April 27, 2012 15:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that, while in cruise flight about 3,000 feet above ground level, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and performed a forced landing. Subsequent examination revealed that the airplane's right main fuel tank was devoid of fuel and the left main fuel tank contained about 25 gallons of fuel. The fuel selector valve in the cockpit was found in the "OFF" position, and it was not possible to determine which fuel tank was selected when the engine lost power. Examination of the vegetation surrounding the accident location did not reveal any evidence of damage due to postaccident fuel leakage. Postaccident examination of the airplane, including an engine test run, did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Because the right tank had no fuel, it is likely that the fuel selector valve was selected to the right fuel tank, which resulted in all of the fuel in the right wing fuel tank being consumed and the subsequent total loss of engine power. Following the loss of engine power, even if the pilot had selected the left fuel wing tank, due to the airplaneā€™s proximity to the ground, the fuel likely did not have time to reach the engine for an engine restart.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/27/2012
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1520
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Fowler's Bluff
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32626
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 292318N
Event Location Longitude 0830118W
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 1453 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 342
Weather Observation Facility ID CTY
Elevation of weather observation facility 42
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
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) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
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 2
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31324
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern C-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 16 2013 12:32PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6564X
NTSB Number ERA12LA306
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 210
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 57564
Certified Max Gross Weight 4000
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 2 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 2312
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name BFI AMERICA INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City MARATHON
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33050-2710
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Clifford L. Rydell
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Key Colony Beach
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 33051
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 PBI
Departure City West Palm Beach
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1345
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TLH
Destination City Tallahassee
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 16 2013 12:34PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --