Accident Hatz CB-1 N4426V, Saturday 5 June 1993

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Date:	Saturday 5 June 1993
Time:	17:00 LT
Type:	Hatz CB-1
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N4426V
MSN:	395
Total airframe hrs:	149 hours
Engine model:	Continental O-200-A
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Stedman, NC - United States of America
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport:	Fayetteville, NC
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE PILOT LANDED THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE IN A FARM FIELD DUE TO LOW FUEL STATUS. HE PURCHASED 5 GALLONS OF AUTO GAS, AND SERVICED THE MAIN TANK. HE THEN LIFTED THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT TO A LEVEL FLIGHT ATTITUDE SO THAT FUEL WOULD DRAIN TO THE HEADER TANK. ON THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE QUIT, THE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A TREE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED AN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED MAIN TANK DRAIN, WHICH RESULTED IN TRAPPED FUEL IN THE MAIN TANK.

Probable Cause: THE IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE MAIN FUEL TANK DRAIN, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND ENGINE STOPPAGE. A FACTOR WERE TREES IN THE FORCED LANDING AREA.

Accident investigation: