COLORADO SPRING, CO, USA
N94EC
ELLER BD-5B
THE COMMERCIAL PLT WAS PERFORMING AN INITIAL FLIGHT ON HIS SINGLE PLACE HOMEBUILT ACFT. DURING INITIAL CLIMB, AT 400 FT AGL, THE GEAR AND FLAPS WERE RETRACTED. 10 SECONDS LATER THE ENGINE SEEMED TO LOSE POWER AND THE PLT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS. THE POWER RESUMED AND 20 SECONDS LATER THE PLT SAID THE ENGINE STOPPED. THE PLT MADE A 180 DEG TURN AND ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. THE PLANE UNDERSHOT AND LANDED 100 FEET SHORT OF THE RWY. THE PLT REPORTED THE LANDING GEAR PINCHED THE FLEXIBLE FUEL LINES WHEN RETRACTED. AN FAA INSPECTOR CONCURRED AFTER A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION. 5 WEEKS LATER THE PLT WROTE A LETTER STATING THAT HE FELT THAT WATER IN THE AUTO FUEL CAUSED THE REPORTED ENGINE STOPPAGE.
THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF FUEL LINES WHICH WERE PINCHED OFF CAUSING FUEL STARVATION WHEN THE GEAR WAS RETRACTED. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE TERRAIN FEATURES INCLUDING LOOSE GRAVEL SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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