Howard DGA 15P N9471H

Summary

On 30 September 2018 at about 15:44 local time, a Howard DGA 15P registered N9471H was involved in an accident near Kernville, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 September 2018 at 15:44

Classification

Accident

Location

Kernville, California, United States

Nearest airport

Kern Valley (L05)

Coordinates

35.7236, -118.4186

Aircraft

Howard DGA 15P

Registration

N9471H

Category

Airplane

Year built

1943

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kernville → Bakersfield

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR18LA278

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power during initial climb due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Before departure, the pilot selected the main fuel tank, performed an engine run-up and then taxied to the runway. During his subsequent takeoff attempt, the airplane lifted off the ground and transitioned into a climb. As the airplane reached about 50 ft above ground level, the pilot experienced a total loss of engine power. The airplane descended rapidly and impacted the runway, which resulted in a postcrash fire and destroyed most of the airplane except for the engine compartment. Information provided by the airplane type certificate holder indicated that takeoffs were conventionally conducted with the front fuel tank selected for takeoff rather than the main fuel tank. The accident airplane’s operating handbook indicated that takeoff should be conducted with the main tank selected, but documentation indicated that the manufacturer later published guidance requiring takeoffs with the front fuel tank selected due to an unspecified fuel system failure, believed to be the result of a fuel tank un-porting. There was no available information to indicate that this guidance was distributed to the operators of earlier serial number airplanes. The type certificate holder also published anecdotes from pilots who had experienced a loss of engine power during takeoff with the main fuel tank selected when the tank was less than 1/2 full. The accident pilot reported that the main fuel tank may have been less than 3/8 full at the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane and an engine test run did not reveal any preimpact mechanical anomalies that could have resulted in a loss of power. Given the available information, it is likely that the engine experienced fuel starvation, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.