The National Transportation Board has released the following findings in the June 25, 2009 Pitts aerobatic aircraft crash.
Prior to departure, the pilot Neville J. Hogan, 60, of Sudbury, Mass, added a total of 20 gallons of fuel to the upper wing auxiliary and lower (main) tanks of the Pitts S-2B bi-plane, filling the tanks to their 28 gallon capacity.
About halfway to the destination airport, after flying for about an hour, the pilot transferred fuel from the upper (auxiliary) to the lower (main) fuel tank.
As the airplane approached the airport which the pilot planned to stop for fuel, the pilot determined a fuel stop was not necessary as his GPS predicted an arrival time at his destination equating to 2 hours of flight time.
When the airplane was about 20 miles from its destination, the engine “quit abruptly” and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field off Frederickstadt Ave.
Examination of the airplane revealed the upper wing fuel tank contained approximately 3-5 gallons of fuel, and no fuel was observed in the main fuel tank. The fuel lines from the fuel servo contained only “residual fuel.” The fuel selector was observed in the “ON” position. The fuel transfer valve, which transferred fuel from the upper wing fuel tank to the lower wing (main) fuel tank, was in the “CLOSED” position.
The pilot believed the airplane’s engine consumed about 11.5 gallons per hour; however, the manufacturer reported the airplane’s engine consumed between 12 and 14 gallons per hour.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident was a “loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot’s improper fuel transfer in flight”.
Goshen – It is beyond time to have an updated immigration policy. The issue has been kicked down the el calle for way to long. Eric Cantor and the republican congress walked out of the Dreamer deal with Obama…
