# Incident 20130109000349I: Cullis Eric L LOEHLE SPORT PARASOL, Pelion, SC, January 9, 2013

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 9, 2013, 14:00 local time
- Place: Pelion, SC
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7707° N, 81.2483° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pelion, SC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7707&lon=-81.2483&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2295P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2295P-2019-05-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cullis Eric L LOEHLE SPORT PARASOL (registry code 05625DY, https://openairdocs.org/model/cullis-eric-l-loehle-sport-parasol) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CULLIS ERIC L LOEHLE SPORT PARASOL
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR 503 UL DCD1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,100 total, 8 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130109000349I

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATEMENT: CRUISING AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET AGL, AT 55 KNOTS IAS, MY LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT ENGINE (ROTAX 503) SPUTTERED. I LOOKED DOWN AT THE FUEL LINE FROM THE REAR TANK (WHICH I WAS USING) AND SAW AIR BUBBLES MOVING THROUGH IT. I OPENED THE VALVE FOR THE FRONT TANK, BUT APPARENTLY TOO LATE. THE ENGINE QUIT. THE ENGINE PULL START HANDLE IS ON THE FLOOR BETWEEN THE RUDDER PEDALS; I COULD NOT REACH IT WITHOUT RELEASING MY SHOULDER HARNESS. I QUICKLY DECIDED AGAINST RELEASING THE HARNESS, LESS THE ENGINE NOT START AND I WOULD NOT BE FULLY STRAPPED IN DURING EMERGENCY LANDING. IT WAS TIME TO FULLY CONCENTRATE ON THE LANDING. I LOCATED WHAT APPEARED TO BE MY BEST OPTION FOR A FIELD IN WHICH TO LAND AND CAREFULLY WATCHED AIRSPEED ON THE APPROACH. THERE WERE POWER LINES AND TELEPHONE CABLE ACROSS THE APPROACH END OF MY TARGET FIELD. GOING ABOVE THEM WOULD HAVE PUT ME TOO FAR INTO THE SHORT FIELD. I DECIDED ON FORWARD STICK TO TRY TO GO UNDER THE LINES ONCE I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH. MY LANDING GEAR HIT THE GROUND HARD JUST SHORT OF THE POWER LINES, TEARING OFF THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL AT THAT TIME; THE PLANE BOUNCED BUT WENT UNDER THE LINES. TOUCHING DOWN IN THE FIELD. THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR STRUT DUG INTO THE GROUND, SPINNING THE PLANE TO THE RIGHT AND PUTTING THE RIGHT WING TIP INTO THE GROUND. IT STOPPED QUICKLY AT THAT POINT, POINTED 90 DEGREES LEFT FROM THE FLIGHT PATH. I WAS CONSCIOUS THE ENTIRE TIME AND DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES.

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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