Accident Details
On November 16, 2020, at about 0810 eastern standard time, a Republic RC-3, registration N451E, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Advance, North Carolina. The airline transport pilot was seriously injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Flight History
The day before the accident, a mechanic performed a test flight and noted that the fuel tanks contained about 18 gallons of fuel. The pilot then flew a 30- to 45-minute flight that evening. On the morning of the accident, the pilot departed from his home airport at 0740 for an approximate 30-minute flight to Twin Lakes Airport (8A7), Mocksville, North Carolina.
The pilot estimated the flight would take 20 minutes with a 9-knot tailwind and planned fuel consumption of 13 gallons per hour, requiring 4 to 5 gallons. He reported the airplane had “+/-13 gallons” of fuel before departure. Takeoff, climb, and cruise were normal. During cruise, cylinder head and exhaust gas temperatures were high, prompting the pilot to richen the mixture. He noted the estimated tailwind was absent.
Approximately 4 miles from the destination, the pilot pushed the mixture in for landing, and the engine rolled back to idle. He attempted to restore power by adjusting the mixture but failed and began searching for a landing site. The engine briefly regained power, allowing a climb toward the airport, but about 1 mile from the airport, total power loss occurred, leading to a forced landing in a field.
Mechanical Examination
Post-accident examination by an FAA inspector revealed substantial damage to the wing spar. The propeller rotated by hand with crankshaft continuity. No fuel was found in the fuel tank, and trace fuel was present in the fuel filter. The fuel tank was intact with no evidence of spillage.
An engine run was conducted at a salvage facility with 4.5 gallons of fuel added, after which the fuel gauge indicated ¼ full. The engine started after several attempts and ran without anomalies. The tachometer did not function, but all other gauges operated normally. No anomalies precluding normal operation were found.
Fuel Calculations
The mechanic reported that fuel consumption for the RC-3 varies between 13.5 and 20 gallons per hour, depending on propeller setting. The fuel flow gauge in the accident airplane was uncalibrated, so actual consumption rate was unknown—a fact communicated to the pilot. The mechanic asked the pilot the night before and the morning of the accident about fuel quantity, and the pilot replied it was fine.
Based on information from the mechanic and pilot, if the airplane flew for 1 hour and 15 minutes (including the previous evening’s flight and the accident flight), it would have burned between 16.25 and 25 gallons, not accounting for engine start, taxi, and run-up. The exact fuel consumption could not be determined.