Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary FTW91LA083

ODESSA, TX, USA

Aircraft #1

N117BT

AUSTRALITE AEROBAT FPP1

Analysis

A PRIVATE PILOT WAS RETURNING TO LAND AFTER COMPLETING A PUBLIC AEROBATICS DEMONSTRATION AT AN AIR SHOW. WHILE ON BASE LEG, A POWER LOSS OCCURRED. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE RUNWAY, SO HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE ON HIS PRESENT HEADING AND LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD COVERED WITH SMALL MESQUITE TREES. A SUCCESSFUL LANDING WAS MADE, BUT WHILE ON THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED SEVERAL SMALL TREES. THE TAILBOOM BROKE TWO FEET BEHIND THE PROPELLER ARC LINE. THE FRONT CANOPY PLEXIGLASS WAS ALSO BROKEN. THE FUEL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE WAS CAUSED BY A CRACKED QUARTER INCH ALUMINUM FUEL LINE INSIDE THE FUEL CELL.

Probable Cause and Findings

FUEL STARVATION AS A RESULT OF A CRACKED FUEL LINE INSIDE THE FUEL CELL. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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