# Accident 20181027020979A: Fowler David P TITAN T-51, Valkaria, FL, October 27, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 27, 2018, 13:15 local time
- Place: Valkaria, FL
- Airport: Valkaria
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.9625° N, 80.5644° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9625&lon=-80.5644&mi=10
- Aircraft: N154DF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N154DF-2019-03-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Fowler David P TITAN T-51 (registry code 05634EX, https://openairdocs.org/model/fowler-david-p-titan-t-51) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Honda J35A (registry code 33801, https://openairdocs.org/engine/honda-j35a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FOWLER DAVID P TITAN T-51
- Reported engine: HONDA J35
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 9,988 total, 4 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA19LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA032) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181027020979A

## Narrative

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

RESPONDED TO AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN AMATEUR BUILT TITAN T-51 AIRCRAFT THAT CRASHED AT THE VALKARIA AIRPORT IN GRANT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CERTIFICATED ON 01/25/2016. THE MAKE A FOWLER DAVID P. WAS DEPARTING X59 FOR TEST FLIGHTS UPON TAKEOFF WHEN THE PILOT EXPERIENCED ENGINE ISSUES AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES INTO FLIGHT AND TRIED TO RETURN. WITNESS HAS STATED THEY SEEN WHITE FOLLOWED BY BLACK PLUMES OF SMOKE BECOMING PULSATING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE EXHAUST STACKS. THE PILOT NEVER RETRACTED HIS GEAR AND CIRCLED AROUND TO THE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT HOWEVER LOST ALTITUDE AND STRUCK A SMALL RETENTION POND, RIGHT WING LOW BREAKING OFF THE RIGHT WING, SPINNING AROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST POINTING NORTHWEST ON THE BANK OF THE RETENTION POND. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AND PRODUCED POWER. THE DAMAGE SUBSTANTIAL SHOWS THE RIGHT WING DETACHED AND REMAINED IN THE WATER AWAITING REMOVAL. THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE A HONDA EXPERIMENTAL BROKE FROM THE MOUNTS AND MOST OF WHICH WAS IN THE WATER HELD BY THE BATTERY CABLE AND OIL/FUEL LINES. OTHER DAMAGE TO INCLUDE THE LEFT WING THAT WAS BUCKLED AND SHOWN SIGNS OF STRESS CRACKS, UNDER CARRIAGE NEAR THE NOSE WAS BUCKLED AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR. THE RIGHT REMAINED EXTENDED HOWEVER, THE OTHER TWO HAD COLLAPSED. THE PROPELLER A COMPOSITE MATERIAL DISINTEGRATED AND MULTIPLE PIECES WERE PULLED FROM THE WATER AND THROUGHOUT THE DEBRIS FIELD IN WHICH WAS SOMEWHAT CONTAINED EXCLUDING THE RIGHT WING. SOME FUEL EXPELLED IN THE WATER AND THE EPA WAS NOTIFIED. THE PILOT EXPERIENCED WAS FLYING A LEG OF THE REQUIRED 40 HOURS TEST FLIGHTS FOR THIS TYPE AIRCRAFT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. HE SUSTAINED A SERIOUS LACERATION TO HIS FOREHEAD AND MULTIPLE LACERATIONS ON BOTH OF HIS ARMS. LATER INFORMED THAT HE ALSO SUFFERED A BROKEN ANKLE. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO PALM BAY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL FOR FURTHER TREATMENT. THE PILOT HOLDS A THIRD CLASS MEDICAL WITH A DATE OF 06/17/2017. HE POSSESSES MULTIPLE CERTIFICATE'S TO INCLUDE INSTRUCTOR, BOTH FLIGHT AND GROUND AND A COMMERCIAL ENDORSEMENT. THIS AIRCRAFT CURRENTLY WAS 10 HOURS INTO ITS REQUIRED 40-HOUR TEST FLIGHTS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT FUEL PUMP MAY HAVE MALFUNCTIONED CAUSED FUEL DEPRIVATION TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO SURGE AND OBSERVED FUEL PRESSURE FLUCTUATED BETWEEN 40-60 PSI, WITH 60 BEING NORMAL. THE ENGINE WILL HAVE A TEARDOWN TO ELIMINATE ANY INTERNAL FAILURE OR UNDERLYING ISSUES AND THE REPORT AMENDED AS NECESSARY.

## 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 ERA19LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA032), Oct 27, 2018: Titan T51 (N154DF), Valkaria, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial, then total, loss of engine power due to detonation and associated damage to several pistons as a result of an overly lean fuel-to-air ratio.

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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