# Incident 20120413006999I: Nelson Sydney/Nelson Diann ZODIACXL, Medina, OH, April 13, 2012

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 13, 2012, 13:37 local time
- Place: Medina, OH
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.3799° N, 81.6395° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3799&lon=-81.6395&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4337G, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4337G) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Nelson Sydney/Nelson Diann ZODIACXL (registry code 05901RM, https://openairdocs.org/model/nelson-sydney-nelson-diann-zodiacxl) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Jabiru 3300 (registry code 34801, https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NELSON SYDNEY/NELSON DIANN ZODIACXL
- Reported engine: JABIRU 3300
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA245) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120413006999I

## Narrative

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

ON FRIDAY APRIL 13, 2012 AIRCRAFT N4337G, AN EXPERIMENTAL AMATUER BUILT ZENITH ZODIAC XL, WAS FLYING IN THE PATTERN OF COLUMBIA STATION AIRPORT (4G8) AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT AT 4G8. AFTER LANDING, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO FLY TO MEDINA AIRPORT (1G5), WHICH IS ABOUT 20 MINUTES AWAY. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 5 MINUTES FROM 1G5 IT LOST POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN POWER WAS RESTORED. A FEW SECONDS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND CONTINUED TO SWITHCH BACK AND FORTH. THE PILOT BEGAN TO SWITCH THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM BOTH TO LEFT AND THEN TO RIGHT. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CARB HEAT WAS TURNED ON AND THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS SWITCHED BACK TO BOTH. NOTHING WORKED AND THEN THE PILOT NOTICED THAT HIS FUEL PRESSURE WAS READING ZERO, ALL THE WHILE, LOOSING ALTITUDE. REALIZING THAT HE WASN'T GOING TO MAKE IT TO 1G5, HE LANDED IN A OPEN FIELD IN A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.  WHILE ROLLING AT ABOUT 15 MPH HIS NOSE WHEEL FELL INTO A SOFT HOLE AND COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR. WITH THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST AT A NOSE DOWN POSITION, SNAPPING OFF ONE OF THE PROPELLORS. THE PILOT'S HEAD HIT THE CANOPY WHICH CREATED A HOLE. WHEN THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT HE TURNED ON THE MASTER SWITCH AND ELECTRIC PUMP AND THE FUEL PRESSURE READ 5 LBS. THIS HAS LED HIM TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING WAS BLOCKING THE FUEL. THE PILOT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR PRECAUTIONARY REASONS, BUT WAS RELEASED A FEW HOURS LATER AFTER X-RAYS AND STITCHES.

## 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 CEN12LA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA245), Apr 13, 2012: Nelson Sydney/Nelson Diann Zodiac XL (N4337G), Medina, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: A cracked fuel line, which resulted in a loss of fuel pressure and subsequent loss of engine power.

## Other reports on N4337G (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20221112018089I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221112018089I), Nov 12, 2022: Nelson Sydney/Nelson Diann ZODIACXL (N4337G), Apex, NC, Minor damage. On Saturday, November 12, 2022, at approximately 4:30 eastern time, the PIC (pilot in command) shot an approach to the uphill portion of the active runway at…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
