Cessna 140 N2332V accident near Burlington, Wisconsin

Probable cause

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

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he departed with the fuel selector set to the right fuel tank, which was full of fuel. About 30 minutes after departure, he made a touch-and-go landing and takeoff at his destination airport. During the initial climb, the engine started to lose power when the airplane was about 100 feet above the runway. The pilot entered a left turn and attempted to land on an adjacent grass runway, but the airplane impacted the terrain short of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s fuel system revealed that the left fuel tank was empty and the right fuel tank was full of fuel. Examination of the airplane’s fuel selector revealed that the fuel selector indicator handle was improperly installed. When the fuel selector indicator handle was placed in the right fuel tank position, the fuel was actually coming from the left fuel tank. There was no record in the airplane’s maintenance logbook that indicated replacement of the fuel selector valve, the fuel selector indicator handle, or the fuel selector placard. It was not determined who performed the maintenance on the fuel selector and had improperly installed the fuel selector indicator handle.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN11LA448 for the full record.