20081207854469A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Merril F1 ROCKET EVO · Sebastian, FL · December 7, 2008

Date: December 7, 2008 · 18:00 local
Place: Sebastian, FL
Airport: Sebastian Municipal
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N757SM
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA09LA081
Reported as: Merril F1ROCKETEVO
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 480 total115 in this make and model20 in the last 90 days

N757SMRegistration cancelled Sep 15, 2010 · Merrell Stephen F1 ROCKET EVOS/N 150 · Built 2007 Airframe modelMerrell Stephen F1 ROCKET EVO Engine modelMattituck TMX-540Reciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Shortly after takeoff from Sebastian airport pilot stated he lost engine power. Pilot then decided to try and return to airport but landed in a marshy area west of airport resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. The aircraft spun 360° during landing with resulting damage to the empennage and l/h wing. The l/h wing contained fuel and the fuel selector was on the l/h position.

As the FAA filed it

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM SEBASTIAN AIRPORT PILOT STATED HE LOST ENGINE POWER. PILOT THEN DECIDED TO TRY AND RETURN TO AIRPORT BUT LANDED IN A MARSHY AREA WEST OF AIRPORT RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT SPUN 360° DURING LANDING WITH RESULTING DAMAGE TO THE EMPENNAGE AND L/H WING. THE L/H WING CONTAINED FUEL AND THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE L/H POSITION.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA09LA081Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSebastian, FLA loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's incorrect positioning of the fuel selector valve.Dec 7, 2008 · Substantial damage