Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CHI95LA111

SALINA, KS, USA

Aircraft #1

N3223P

BAKER LONG EZE

Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED HE FILLED BOTH FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. HE WAS CRUISING AT 800 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AND TURNED THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP ON. THE ENGINE STOPPED WINDMILLING. HE LOWERED THE NOSE GEAR AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE WITH THE STARTER TO NO AVAIL. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A GRAVEL ROAD BUT HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE. HE LANDED SHORT OF THE ROAD IN A SOFT FIELD. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE DIAPHRAGM IN THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP WAS CRACKED. NO OTHER EVIDENCE OF A PRE-EXISTING MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

Factual Information

On March 27, 1995, at 1040 central standard time, an experimental Baker Long Eze, N3223P, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Salina, Kansas. The private pilot and one passenger reported minor injuries. The personal flight originated at 0745 in Hampton, Iowa, with a planned destination of Dalhart, Texas. A VFR flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 flight. The pilot reported he filled both fuel tanks prior to departure. He was cruising at 800 feet above ground level when the engine lost power. He switched fuel tanks and turned the electric fuel boost pump on. The engine stopped windmilling. He lowered the nose gear and attempted to restart the engine with the starter to no avail. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a gravel road but had insufficient altitude. He landed short of the road in a soft plowed field. The nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. An aircraft inspector, who examined the wreckage, reported the diaphragm in the engine driven fuel pump was cracked. He reported no other evidence of preaccident malfunction.

Probable Cause and Findings

failure of the engine driven fuel pump. Factors associated with the accident were fuel starvation, insufficient altitude and soft terrain.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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