Rick Campbell ZENITH-STOL CH801 N1399X

Summary

On 2 June 2009 at about 20:55 local time, a Rick Campbell ZENITH-STOL CH801 registered N1399X was involved in an accident near Gallman, Mississippi, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 June 2009 at 20:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Gallman, Mississippi, United States

Nearest airport

Copiah County Airport (M11)

Coordinates

31.9028, -90.3686

Aircraft

Rick Campbell ZENITH-STOL CH801

Registration

N1399X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gallman → Gallman

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09LA316

2 people died.

A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the flightcrew's improper fuel management.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After maintenance was performed that required the draining of the fuel tanks and removal and reinstallation of the right wing, the pilot-rated mechanics performed a test flight of the accident airplane in the airport traffic pattern. While turning from the base leg onto final approach for the runway, the airplane experienced a total loss of power. The pilot made a right turn in the direction of a field; the airplane then struck trees and impacted terrain in a nearly flat, inverted attitude. A postcrash fire then ensued. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact malfunctions of the engine or airplane. During examination of the fuel system it was revealed that the fuel system consisted of four fuel tanks, each with a single fuel outlet located at the lower rear corner of the fuel tank. Further examination of the fuel system and the existing burn patterns from the postcrash fire also revealed that the right main fuel tank and the left auxiliary fuel tank had contained little or no fuel in them prior to the accident. The lack of fuel in the right main fuel tank and the location of the fuel outlet, in combination with the airplane's nose-low attitude during descent to the runway and the left bank required to turn from the base to final leg of the traffic pattern, likely resulted in air entering the fuel system from the empty or nearly empty right main fuel tank.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.