# Accident 20170710009819A: Arion LIGHTENING, New River, AZ, July 10, 2017 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 10, 2017, 07:56 local time - Place: New River, AZ - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Climb - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 33.9292° N, 112.1406° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9292&lon=-112.1406&mi=10 - Aircraft: N273DB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N273DB-2018-10-22) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Charles J Norris ARION LIGHTNING (registry code 056340T, https://openairdocs.org/model/charles-j-norris-arion-lightning) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Jabiru 3300 (registry code 34802, https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ARION LIGHTENING - Reported engine: JABIRU 3300A - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17LA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA148) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170710009819A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ACFT DEPARTED GEU AROUND 0730 AND CRASHED AROUND 0755. THE ACCIDENT WAS ABOUT 1 MILE NORTH OF NEW RIVER RD ABOUT 2 MILES EAST OF I-17. MCSO REPORT# 17-020993 ? OFFICER RICHARD WURZBACH BADGE# 1208 SGB AND I ARRIVED ON SCENE AT 1152. 1 POB ? ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^BUILDER & REPAIRMAN ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, NO INJURIES ACFT IS BELIEVED TO BE A COMPLETE LOSS. PIC WAS FLYING ACFT TO CONFIRM FLIGHT CONTROL CORRECTION FOR RIGHT WING HEAVY (VERIFICATION WAS GOOD, WINGS LEVEL). HEADING 360*, AT 6,000?, 450 FPM CLIMB THE ENGINE WENT FROM 2850 RPM TO 1400 RPM, UNCOMMANDED. PIC PERFORMED A 180* TO FIND LEVEL GROUND. PIC DID NOT TURN ON AUX FUEL PUMP (ELECTRIC PUMP). DEPARTED GUE WITH 30 GALLONS OF FUEL (CONFIRMED WING TANKS WERE STILL FULL). PIC FOUND PLATEAU AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND BUT HAD TOO MUCH ENERGY AND RAN LONG OF THE PLATEAU. PLACED FLAPS AT FULL AND TURNED OFF THE MASTER SWITCH FOR IMPACT. IMPACT AT APPROXIMATELY 65KTS. THE LEFT WING TIP STRUCK A CREOSOTE BUSH FOLLOWED BY THE LEFT WING LEADING EDGE STRIKING A BARREL CACTUS, LEFT GEAR IMPACT, SLIGHT LEFT SPIN RIPPING THE LEFT GEAR OFF AND COMING TO A REST ON N. 33RD AVE. SPECIAL (EXPERIMENTAL/AMATEUR BUILT) AWC ISSUED 3/30/2016. CONDITION INSPECTION PERFORMED BY BUILDER ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ REPAIRMAN IN JUNE 2017. VERIFICATION OF FUEL TO CARB NEGATIVE. THROTTLE CABLE INTACT. CARB IS FAIL SAFE TO FULL THROTTLE. UNTIL ENGINE IS TORN DOWN, SOURCE IS UNK. AT THIS POINT, THE MECHANICAL FUEL PUMP IS SUSPECT. SPOKE WITH STEVE STEIN (NTSB). NTSB WANTS THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM INVESTIGATED. AIR TRANSPORT CONTACTED BY THE OWNER AT THE REQUEST OF THE OWNERS INSURANCE COMPANY. ACFT RECOVERY IN PLACE. DEPARTED SCENE AT 1355. 7/26/2017, ENGINE TEARDOWN WITH NTSB. NOTHING ABNORMAL WAS NOTED. MECHANICAL FUEL PUMP AND PRESSURE COMPENSATING CABURETOR WERE REMOVED AND SENT TO THE OEM FOR TEARDOWN / ANALYSIS. ## 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 WPR17LA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA148), Jul 10, 2017: Charles J Norris Arion Lightning (N273DB), New River, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined due to a lack of available evidence. 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.