Cessna A185F N19D

Summary

On 17 April 2021 at about 00:30 local time, a Cessna A185F registered N19D, operated by Echelon Right LLC, was involved in an accident near North Vernon, Indiana, 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

17 April 2021 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

North Vernon, Indiana, United States

Coordinates

39.0549, -85.5987

Aircraft

Cessna A185F

Registration

N19D

Category

Airplane

Year built

1980

Engines

1

Operator

Echelon Right LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

North Vernon → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

CEN21LA194

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper installation of the fuel selector handle, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After a 100-hour inspection, which the pilot assisted with, he conducted an operational check of the airplane, which included a run-up of the airplane. The mechanic had to leave before the inspection was complete, and the pilot installed portions of the interior which included the fuel selector handle. He then departed the airport and after retracting the landing gear and flaps, the engine lost power. During the forced landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and aft section of the fuselage. Examination of the airplane revealed that fuel was available in the left and right fuel tanks. The examination also found that the fuel selector handle had been installed incorrectly by 90° on the fuel selector shaft. The position of the shaft as found would have restricted all fuel flow from the left and right fuel tanks. The shaft was “keyed” such that the fuel selector handle should only be installed one way; however, the handle partially fit over the stem when not aligned with the key on the shaft and allowed the attaching screw to partially engage on the stem. An engine test run was conducted; the engine started normally and with the engine at full throttle, the fuel selector was placed in the left, right, and both positions. The engine continued to run with no anomalies noted. The airplane was factory equipped with a small header tank that fuel accumulated in before being fed to the engine. The accident is consistent with the fuel selector shaft being in the off position while the selector handle pointed to the left fuel tank. Once the fuel in the airplane’s header tank was exhausted, the engine lost power due to fuel starvation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.