# Accident 20191003023139A: Jeffrey W Wright AR-1, Fort Meade, FL, October 3, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 3, 2019, 13:58 local time
- Place: Fort Meade, FL
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.7017° N, 81.7861° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7017&lon=-81.7861&mi=10
- Aircraft: N463JW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N463JW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Jeffrey W Wright AR-1 (registry code 05637ZS, https://openairdocs.org/model/jeffrey-w-wright-ar-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 914UL (registry code 55553, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914ul) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JEFFREY W WRIGHT AR-1
- Reported engine: ROTAX 914UL
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 150 total, 140 in this make and model, 31 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20TA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20TA005) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191003023139A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS FLYING A VFR LEG FROM ZEPHYRHILLS AIRPORT TO SEBRING WITH ANOTHER GYRO AIRCRAFT.  AT CRUISE SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 90 KNOTS AND 900 FEET AGL, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOUD BANG WITH ACCOMPANIED POWER LOSS.  THE PILOT SELECTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WHICH SEEMED SUITABLE.  THE AREA WAS ACTUALLY A PHOSPHATE MINE WHICH USES A GYPSUM MUD LAKE APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET DEEP TO EXTRACT PHOSPHATE.  THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SOFTLY, BUT DUE TO THE INSTABILITY OF THE GROUND THE AIRCRAFT TILTED SLIGHTLY AND THE ROTOR AND PROPELLER STRUCK THE GROUND AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP.  THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE MUD, AND WAS EVENTUALLY RESCUED BY A COAST GUARD HELICOPTER WITH A RESCUE HOIST.  ANALYSIS OF THE ENGINE COMPLETED BY A ROTAX ENGINE SPECIALIST SHOWED NO DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE.  A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, AND THE FUEL WAS HEAVILY CONTAMINATED.  THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS INTACT AND SHOWED NO INDICATION EXPOSURE TO CONTAMINANTS FROM OUTSIDE.  THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS DRAINED, REFILLED WITH NEW FUEL, AND THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY.  THE FUEL WAS PURCHASED AT A GAS STATION NEAR THE NORTH TAMPA AIRPORT THE DAY PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT.  DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT ROTOR WHICH ADVERSELY AFFECTS THE FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VEHICLE, THE CASE IS DEEMED AN ACCIDENT.

## 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 ERA20TA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20TA005), Oct 3, 2019: Silverlight AR-1 (N463JW), Fort Meade, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection that failed to detect water contamination of the fuel and resulted in a total loss of engine power during cruise flight.

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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