# Accident 20020906023189A: Amtr VELOCITYXLRG, Fresno, CA, September 6, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 6, 2002, 12:00 local time
- Place: Fresno, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.6600° N, 119.7694° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6600&lon=-119.7694&mi=10
- Aircraft: N394BL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N394BL-2013-07-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Huene William A VELOCITY XL-RG (registry code 056131H, https://openairdocs.org/model/huene-william-a-velocity-xl-rg) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR VELOCITYXLRG
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA275) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020906023189A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) AS N394BL DESCENDED THROUGH 2000', THE PILOT DETECTED AN ABNORMAL ENGINE SOUND AND INDICATION OF LOW OIL PRESSURE. WITHIN ONE MINUTE, THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND, VIBRATION, AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT LANDED SAFELY IN A CORN FIELD AND DISCOVERED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COWL. HE ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A SMALL EXTINGUISHER BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY SERIOUS DAMAGE RESULTING FROM TOUCHDOWN. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER SUFFERED NO INJURIES. TWO PROPELLER BLADES AND THE LOWER COWL WERE RECOVERD APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM THE LANDING SITE. WITNESSES ON THE GROUND REPORTED DEBRIS FALLING FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND SMOKE COMING FROM ITS REAR PRIOR TO LANDING. THE THIRD PROPELLER BLADE WAS BURNED BUT REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE HUB. THE RIGHT WINGLET APPEARED TO HAVE DAMAGE UNRELATED TO THE FIRE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD OBSERVED THIS DAMAGE DURING THE LANDING APPROACH. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK BIRDS OR ANY OTHER OBJECT INFLIGHT. THE EXPERIMENTAL HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT HAS A CANARD CONFIGURATION WITH A REAR FACING ENGINE.                                                            (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2002, APPROXIMATELY 1200 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A HUENE VELOCITY XL-RG SINGLE-ENGINE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE, N394BL, WAS DESTROYED DURING A FORCED LANDING NEAR FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO ANATARIUS INC., OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE APPLE VALLEY AIRPORT AT 1100, AND WAS DESTINED FOR THE SKYPARK AIRPORT, FRESNO. IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WITH THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE OIL PRESSURE, FOLLOWED BY A "LOUD THUD," A VIBRATION, AND A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN A VACANT FIELD. AFTER LANDING AND SAFELY EGRESSING THE AIRPLANE, THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER NOTICED A FIRE COMING FROM THE REAR PORTION OF THE AIRPLANE WHERE THE ENGINE IS LOCATED. AN ATTEMPT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE PROVED UNSUCCESSFUL, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX02LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA275), Sep 6, 2002: Huene Velocity XL-RG (N394BL), Fresno, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: An in-flight exhaust stack separation during descent for landing resulting in loss of engine power and a forced landing to an open field.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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