Paul, you made reference to John Denver and the fuel selector.
What was the cause of JD's crash?
Thanks!
Ben

Speculation and rumor has it he was reaching over his shoulder to switch
tanks at low altitude and flew into the ocean.

Paul Lamar

The guy who did JD's conversion training, and was friends with the
previous owner, wrote about his perspective in February....
I just went searching and didn't find the article. Anybody book mark this?

And the NTSB:
http://www.avweb.com/other/ntsb9905.html

Regards,
Mark



Thanks Mark. Everybody should read the NTSB report. They spent big
bucks investigating this accident. PL

"TESTS AND RESEARCH INFORMATION

   The fuel selector, linkage, universal joint, handle, and handle bearing block were recovered. The brass selector stem/shaft was found fractured between two opposing drilled rivet holes that attach the hollow portion of the shaft to the torque tube/handle linkage. The Safety Board's Materials Laboratory examined the stem/shaft fracture. Although the stem/shaft was severely weakened by the rivet addition, there was no evidence of pre-impact failure on the stem. A copy of the laboratory report is attached.

   The brass 3-port Imperial fuel selector valve assembly was examined and found in an intermediate position, which was one-half open between the engine feed line and the right tank fuel supply line. The port to the left tank was also observed to be open about 10 percent to the engine feed line. The valve was found frozen in place and could not be moved. The fuel valve was plumbed into an engine test cell, with the fuel supply connected to the valve's right tank fuel port. At that point, the left tank port was open to the atmosphere and was subsequently capped. An exemplar Lycoming O-320 engine was installed in the test cell, started and run to maximum power. The one-half-open right port position had negligible effect on the engine power output; however, when the cap was removed from the left port (simulating the effect of an empty left tank) the fuel pressure dropped to less than one-half, and within a few seconds the engine quit because of the fuel/air mixture resulted in a vapor state.

   The steel and aluminum rods connecting the handle to the fuel selector valve were found bent. The rods were straightened to determine the handle position relative to the valve position. Extensive metallurgical and installation examinations were performed at the Safety Board Materials Laboratory and with exemplar aircraft in the field. Copies of the laboratory reports are attached."



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