NTSB Reports June 2014: Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents

At about 2055 Eastern time, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The pilot subsequently made an off-airport forced landing to a pasture and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward portion of the fuselage, both wings and the rudder. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

Editorial Staff

Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Many accidents involved total or partial loss of engine power, frequently leading to forced landings, often due to fuel exhaustion or mechanical issues.
Loss of aircraft control was a recurring factor in several crashes, occurring during various flight phases such as takeoff, approach, and maneuvering.
Adverse weather conditions, including strong winds and inadvertent flight into Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), significantly contributed to numerous incidents, including ground mishaps and controlled flight into terrain.

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April 2, 2014, Venus, Fla.
Zenith CH 750 Experimental
At about 2055 Eastern time, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The pilot subsequently made an off-airport forced landing to a pasture and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward portion of the fuselage, both wings and the rudder. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

The pilot reported the fuel gauges indicated approximately three-fourths full for both the left and right fuel tanks before takeoff. However, he did not visually inspect the fuel quantity. He further reported that after the airplane came to rest the fuel selector valve was selected from the “ON” position to the “OFF” position. Post-accident examination revealed the left fuel tank was empty. The right fuel tank had approximately six gallons of fuel. The fuel line to the carburetor was removed, the fuel selector valve was placed in the “ON” position and fuel flowed freely with no debris or restriction noted.