CEDAR HILL, TX, USA
N23RY
RUTAN LONG-EZ
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND LEVELING OFF AT 3000 FT MSL, THE PLT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS. APRX 20 MINUTES INTO THE FLT A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS EXPERIENCED. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A FIELD; HOWEVER, THE ACFT CONTACTED POWER LINES DURING THE DESCENT. CONTROL OF THE ACFT WAS LOST AND THE ACFT CONTACTED THE TERRAIN IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE, COMING TO REST INVERTED. THE ENGINE WAS TESTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE ONLY DISCREPANCY NOTED WAS THE FINGER TIGHT FUEL LINE FITTINGS AT THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE. HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT DETERMINED IF THE FITTINGS WERE LOOSE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. DURING THE TEST THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS BYPASSED DUE TO BROKEN FUEL LINES. THEREFORE, IT WAS NOT DETERMINED WHETHER OR NOT THE LOOSE FITTINGS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF POWER EXPERIENCED.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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