20220609010189A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · James L Harvey RANS DESIGNS S-21 · Fairfield, UT · June 9, 2022

Date: June 9, 2022 · 10:45 local
Place: Fairfield, UT
Airport: West Desert Airpark
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N46JH
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR22LA211
Reported as: James L Harvey Rans Designs S-21
Reported engine: ROTAX 915 IS
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 329 total

N46JHRegistration cancelled Nov 7, 2023 · James L Harvey RANS DESIGNS S-21S/N 02200084 · Built 2021 Airframe modelJames L Harvey RANS DESIGNS S-21 Engine modelRotax 915 IS series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On June 9, 2022, the pilot had just replaced the engine fuel pump on aircraft privacy data omitted due to a recall by Rotax. In addition, the fuel filter was replaced as well as the turbo charger duct due to some noted heat damage. The pilot proceeded to take the aircraft out for a test flight at the West Desert Airpark-UT9.

The pilot stated the aircraft was checked out for proper fuel pressure he completed run up procedure. After verifying all systems checked out, he proceeded to conduct the takeoff. At approximately 150 feet above the ground, the engine started to lose power for no obvious reason to the pilot. The pilot stated it was like it wasn't getting fuel. The pilot landed in a field resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft and minor injury

As the FAA filed it

ON JUNE 9, 2022, THE PILOT HAD JUST REPLACED THE ENGINE FUEL PUMP ON AIRCRAFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DUE TO A RECALL BY ROTAX. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS THE TURBO CHARGER DUCT DUE TO SOME NOTED HEAT DAMAGE. THE PILOT PROCEEDED TO TAKE THE AIRCRAFT OUT FOR A TEST FLIGHT AT THE WEST DESERT AIRPARK-UT9.

THE PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS CHECKED OUT FOR PROPER FUEL PRESSURE HE COMPLETED RUN UP PROCEDURE. AFTER VERIFYING ALL SYSTEMS CHECKED OUT, HE PROCEEDED TO CONDUCT THE TAKEOFF. AT APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER FOR NO OBVIOUS REASON TO THE PILOT. THE PILOT STATED IT WAS LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING FUEL. THE PILOT LANDED IN A FIELD RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AND MINOR INJURY

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR22LA211Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportFairfield, UTThe owner’s (pilot) failure to properly torque a fuel filter b-nut fitting, which likely introduced air into the fuel system and resulted in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the loss of power was a missing restricted bypass line and a header tank vent…Jun 9, 2022 · Substantial damage