Laurienzo Gabriel A VARIEZE N808SA
9 August 2009 · North Augusta, South Carolina, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 9 August 2009 at about 22:00 local time, a Laurienzo Gabriel A VARIEZE registered N808SA, operated by Samuel C. Hart Jr., was involved in an accident near North Augusta, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- North Augusta, South Carolina, United States
- Coordinates
- 33.5031, -81.9639
- Aircraft
- Laurienzo Gabriel A VARIEZE
- Registration
- N808SA
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Samuel C. Hart Jr.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Graniteville → Graniteville
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA09LA453
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot of the amateur-built airplane stated that he was having problems with “dirt dabbers” getting into the fuel vent on his airplane, and he installed a black rubber cap on the fuel vent. The pilot conducted a preflight inspection prior to the accident flight; however, he failed to remove the cap. He departed and was in cruise flight at 2,000 feet mean sea level, paralleling an interstate highway when the engine lost power. The pilot further stated that he immediately knew what happened. "The engine had quit because the air could not enter the fuel tank due to the blocked fuel vent line, which caused the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation." Examination of the airplane revealed the fuel vent was blocked with a black cap. No other anomalies were noted with the airframe, flight controls, fuel system, engine assembly, or associated components.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 2009 | Chatham Robert M RV6-A | Gilbert, South Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Apr 2009 | Mooney M20J | Moncks Corner, South Carolina, United States | Siry Stanley A | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jun 2009 | Beechcraft F33A | Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States | Enviro-Tec Air LLC | No injuries | - |
| 27 Apr 2009 | Cessna 172 | Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States | LH Underwood Aerial Patrol, Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Dec 2009 | Fpna A-22 VALOR | Hunting Island, South Carolina, United States | Costal Empire Flight Training Academy LLC | No injuries | - |
| 29 Apr 2009 | Piper PA-12 | Georgetown, South Carolina, United States | Barnstormers Flite Signs | No injuries | - |