Pitts Aerobatics S-2B N300FA

Summary

On 25 June 2009 at about 22:15 local time, a Pitts Aerobatics S-2B registered N300FA, operated by Neville Hogan, was involved in an accident near Woodbine, New Jersey, 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.

Date

25 June 2009 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Woodbine, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Woodbine Municipal (OBI)

Coordinates

39.2142, -74.7969

Aircraft

Pitts Aerobatics S-2B

Registration

N300FA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Neville Hogan

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bedford → Wildwood

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09LA368

1 person was seriously injured.

A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's improper fuel transfer in flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to departure, the pilot 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. 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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.