# Accident 20081207854469A: Merril F1ROCKETEVO, Sebastian, FL, December 7, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 7, 2008, 18:00 local time
- Place: Sebastian, FL
- Airport: Sebastian Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.8036° N, 80.5158° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8036&lon=-80.5158&mi=10
- Aircraft: N757SM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N757SM-2010-09-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Merrell Stephen F1 ROCKET EVO (registry code 05623IV, https://openairdocs.org/model/merrell-stephen-f1-rocket-evo) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Mattituck TMX-540 (registry code 59604, https://openairdocs.org/engine/mattituck-tmx-540) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MERRIL F1ROCKETEVO
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 480 total, 115 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA09LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA081) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081207854469A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 ERA09LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA081), Dec 7, 2008: Merrell Stephen F1 Rocket (N757SM), Sebastian, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's incorrect positioning of the fuel selector valve.

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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