Robert J Reimbold ZENITH CH 750 N938VP

Summary

On 2 April 2014 at about 23:40 local time, a Robert J Reimbold ZENITH CH 750 registered N938VP, operated by Reimbold Robert J, was involved in an accident near Venus, Florida, United States. 2 people were 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

2 April 2014 at 23:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Venus, Florida, United States

Coordinates

26.9714, -81.5036

Aircraft

Robert J Reimbold ZENITH CH 750

Registration

N938VP

Category

Airplane

Year built

2013

Engines

1

Operator

Reimbold Robert J

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lakeland → La Belle

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ERA14LA183

Nobody was injured.

The fuel system’s inadequate design, which resulted in negative pressure in the right fuel tank and a total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot, who was also the builder/owner of the kit airplane, reported that he was en route toward his home airport with each wing tank about 3/4 full. About 50 minutes into the flight, the engine experienced a total loss of power, and the pilot was unable to restart the engine. The pilot conducted an off-airport, forced landing, and the airplane impacted vegetation and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing, vertical stabilizer, and nose structure. After the airplane came to rest, the pilot turned the fuel selector valve to the "off" position. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing fuel tank was devoid of fuel and that the right wing fuel tank contained about 6 gallons of fuel. Further examination revealed that, when the fuel line to the carburetor was removed and the fuel selector was selected to the "on" position, fuel drained freely from the fuel tank. Examination of both fuel tank venting caps revealed no abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation. According to the fuel system drawing provided by the manufacturer, the fuel line from the right fuel tank runs laterally across the top of the airplane cabin to a T-fitting that is connected to the left tank fuel line. The fuel line then runs down the side of the airplane to the gascolator and the "on/off" shutoff valve. The airplane had no interconnecting fuel venting system, and each fuel tank was independently vented through the fuel caps. An internet forum on this make and model kit airplane noted the occurrence of several other similar in-flight fuel starvation events. The general consensus of the forum discussion was that the fuel system design led to a partial or complete vacuum being developed during fuel consumption, which resulted in the fuel in the left fuel tank being consumed and a subsequent total power loss and in the right fuel tank being at or near maximum capacity. Therefore, it is likely that the fuel system's venting was not sufficient to provide adequate positive pressure and that this resulted in a vacuum developing between the right fuel tank and the T-fitting and the subsequent loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.