Ramesbotham CH701 N4053G

Summary

On 11 August 1996 at about 15:00 local time, a Ramesbotham CH701 registered N4053G was involved in an accident near N. Sioux City, South Dakota, 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

11 August 1996 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

N. Sioux City, South Dakota, United States

Coordinates

42.5291, -96.5001

Aircraft

Ramesbotham CH701

Registration

N4053G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI96LA285

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's delay in switching fuel tanks which resulted in fuel starvation. Factors associated with the accident were the low altitude at which the loss of engine power occurred and the powerline which was contacted.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he flew the flight using the left fuel tank. When the fuel level in the left tank got low, he attempted to feed the engine off the right tank at which time the engine lost power. The pilot was on final approach to land at the time. The airplane contacted a powerline during the forced landing approach to a soybean field. The airplane came to rest in the field. Each fuel tank has an On-Off Selector. According to the pilot there is a return fuel line from the fuel pump to the right tank. Each tank holds seven gallons of fuel. Inspection revealed the left tank was empty and the right tank was full after the accident. The pilot suspected there was air in the line from the right tank which prevented fuel flow.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.