Amateur-built ZENITH CH 750 accident near Venus, Florida, April 2, 2014
On April 2, 2014 at about 11:40 pm local time, a 2013 amateur-built ZENITH CH 750, registered N938VP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Venus, Florida. It was a personal 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 2014 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Venus, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZENITH CH 750, built 2013
- Registration
- N938VP · registry record · serial 75-8566
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- 402191 during 402
- 402341 during 402
- 600440 during other
- 552470 during descent - emergency
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Design
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none, none
- Flight time: 1,434 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 30, 2013
- Medical certificate: class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 76.3 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 5, 2014; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 4,257 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: LAL Lakeland FL at 10:50 pm
- Destination: X14 La Belle FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°C, dew point 61°C
- Altimeter: 30.129999 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA14LA183.