Thibault Michael L RV4 N62632

Summary

On 21 August 2014 at about 22:50 local time, a Thibault Michael L RV4 registered N62632 was involved in an accident near Polk Township, Pennsylvania, 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

21 August 2014 at 22:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Polk Township, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.9200, -75.4428

Aircraft

Thibault Michael L RV4

Registration

N62632

Category

Airplane

Year built

1998

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lehighton → Lehighton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14LA402

1 person had minor injuries.

A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot reported that he visually inspected the fuel tanks before takeoff and that each tank was "just less than half" full. After takeoff for the local personal flight, the pilot climbed the airplane to 2,000 ft mean sea level, and, upon leveling off, switched the fuel selector to the left wing tank. Shortly thereafter, the engine experienced a total loss of power, and the pilot conducted a forced landing to a soybean field. During the landing, the airplane nosed over and then came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall and right wing. Examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no anomalies. The engine was turned by hand at the propeller, and compression was confirmed to all cylinders using the thumb method. The left magneto produced spark when rotated. A total of 2 ounces of fuel was recovered from both of the fuel tank sump drains. Fuel staining was observed on the top of the left wing, consistent with fuel leaking from the tank while the airplane was inverted following the accident. However, no fuel was present in the fuel hose from the engine-driven fuel pump to the carburetor inlet; therefore, it is likely that the engine was not getting fuel. Neither the quantity of fuel present in the tank before the accident nor the reason there was no fuel in the fuel hose could be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.