Ryan 260-B N5321K

Summary

On 20 November 1991 at about 21:00 local time, a Ryan 260-B registered N5321K, operated by John J. Horbal, was involved in an accident near Barre, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 November 1991 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Barre, Massachusetts, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Ryan 260-B

Registration

N5321K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

John J. Horbal

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Limington → Oxford

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC92LA034

1 person had minor injuries.

A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN CRUISE FLIGHT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING AND COLLAPSE OF THE LANDING GEAR DURING THE LANDING ROLL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A LEAKING FUEL SELECTOR VALVE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION WHILE EN ROUTE. HIS ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO ALLOW HIM TO RESTART THE ENGINE OR PICK A LANDING AREA INTO THE WIND. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED WHILE LANDING WITH A STRONG CROSSWIND. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION BY THE FAA SHOWED THE FUSELAGE TANK EMPTY AND USABLE FUEL IN BOTH WING TANKS. THE SPARK PLUGS INDICATED EXPOSURE TO HEAT AND A LEAN MIXTURE. THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS FOUND TO HAVE AN EXTERNAL LEAK. THE PILOT DID NOT REMEMBER WHAT TANK HE WAS SELECTED WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. THE FAA STATED THAT BASED ON THE LEAKY VALVE, THE CAPACITY OF THE FUSELAGE TANK, AND THE LENGTH OF THE FLIGHT IT WAS POSSIBLE THE PILOT WAS SELECTED TO THE FUSELAGE TANK AND EXPERIENCED FUEL STARVATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.