Angel AVID/HEAVY HAULER N740FA

Summary

On 23 October 1994 at about 15:25 local time, a Angel AVID/HEAVY HAULER registered N740FA was involved in an accident near Sutton, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 October 1994 at 15:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Sutton, Massachusetts, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Angel AVID/HEAVY HAULER

Registration

N740FA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fitchburg → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC95LA016

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE FUEL SELECTOR ON THE PROPER POSITION.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE AT 2,500 FT MSL, THE ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE PILOT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN RESTARTING THE ENGINE, AND ELECTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. APPROX 20-30 FT BEFORE TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TOP OF SOME SMALL BIRCH TREES, CAUSING AN INSTANT REVERSAL OF DIRECTION AND SUBSEQUENT IMPACT WITH MARSHY GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE SHUTOFF VALVE WAS MOVED SEVERAL DEGREES TOWARD THE 'OFF' POSITION, BUBBLES BEGAN APPEARING IN THE [CLEAR PLASTIC] FUEL LINE, AND AFTER TEN MINUTES THE ENGINE STOPPED. THE ON/OFF LEVER OF THE FUEL VALVE IS MANUFACTURED SUCH THAT IT CAN BE EASILY MOVED, BECAUSE THERE ARE NO DETENTS TO KEEP THE VALVE IN THE SELECTED POSITION, AND THE VALVE ITSELF IS NOT KEYED TO THE PANEL TO PREVENT ROTATION. THE VALVE IS MOUNTED ALONG THE LOWER INSTRUMENT PANEL EDGE, AND IS LOCATED IN SUCH POSITION THAT THE LEVER CAN BE BUMPED WITH THE KNEE. ACCORDING TO THE FAA THE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE WAS FOUND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE CRASH SITE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.