American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC accident near Lufkin, Texas, July 3, 2013
On July 3, 2013 at about 4:40 pm local time, a 2000 American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC, registered N255SF, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Lufkin, Texas (Angelina County airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The restricted movement of the carburetor’s forked needle valve within its seat due to the mechanic’s misadjustment of the valve clip forks, which resulted in fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 2013 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Lufkin, Texas · Angelina County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC, built 2000 · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N255SF · registry record · serial 1287-2000
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying a pipeline patrol flight about 500 feet above ground level. About 6 miles south of the destination, the engine abruptly lost power. The pilot observed that both fuel tanks contained a usable level of fuel. Additionally, he saw no obvious issues with the mixture setting, carburetor heat, magnetos, throttle position, and fuel shutoff valve. The pilot landed the airplane in a field with high vegetation, which resulted in strut damage. The pilot did not report any fuel or oil leaks. During a postaccident examination, the engine was intermittently operational. The engine would produce power when the carburetor was "tapped" after the engine stopped. A carburetor examination revealed that the accelerator pump was operational and that the fuel screens were clear of debris. However, the forked needle valve's movement within its seat was restricted. The valve clip forks were observed resting on the valve seat when the carburetor's throttle body was inverted. The carburetor maintenance manual specified that a minimum clearance must exist between the forked valve clip and the valve seat. It is likely that the restricted movement of the carburetor's forked needle valve resulted from the mechanic's misadjustment of the valve clip forks, which subsequently caused the engine to lose power due to fuel starvation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Malfunction
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,046 hours in all; 995 in this make and model; 281 in the last 90 days; 118 in the last 30 days; 3,473 as pilot in command; 2,461 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 18, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,842.4 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 19, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kcsi Aerial Patrol INC
The flight
- Departed from: LBX Angleton/Lake Jackson TX at 2:45 pm
- Destination: LFK Lufkin TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KLFK, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.