# Incident 20250825010989I: Rupe Richard C ESCAPADE, Kountze, TX, August 25, 2025

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 25, 2025, 19:00 local time
- Place: Kountze, TX
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.3725° N, 94.3157° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kountze, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3725&lon=-94.3157&mi=10
- Aircraft: N271RR, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N271RR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Rupe Richard C ESCAPADE (registry code 05626O9, https://openairdocs.org/model/rupe-richard-c-escapade) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912UL series (registry code 55571, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RUPE RICHARD C ESCAPADE
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912UL SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 13,104 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250825010989I

## Narrative

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

BEFORE THE INCIDENT FLIGHT, THE PILOT HAD MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE AIRPLANE AT TX42 AIRPORT, NECESSITATING THE AIRCRAFT TO BE TRANSPORTED THERE WITH THE WINGS FOLDED. DURING MAINTENANCE, THE WINGS WERE UNFOLDED TO CONDUCT ENGINE RUNS. AFTER MAINTENANCE WAS COMPLETED, THE PILOT REPLACED THE MECHANIC'S WING PINS WITH HIS OWN. HE THEN DEPARTED FOR THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, T12. ABOUT 45 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGHLY AND ATTEMPTED TO DIVERT TO A NEARBY AIRPORT, HAWTHORNE FIELD (45R). THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE FAILED PRIOR TO REACHING 45R, FORCING THE PILOT TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 0.5 NAUTICAL MILES SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, RESULTING IN MINOR DAMAGE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL HOSE IN THE LEFT WING HAD BEEN PINCHED DURING THE WING UNFOLDING PROCESS, PREVENTING FUEL FROM FLOWING FROM THE LEFT TANK. OBSERVATIONS REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS NEARLY FULL, WHILE THE RIGHT TANK WAS NEARLY EMPTY.

A SAFETY RECOMMENDATION IS BEING SUBMITTED TO THE KIT AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER, SUGGESTING THEY ADD A NOTE IN THE UNFOLDING PROCEDURE TO REMIND PILOTS TO ENSURE THAT FUEL LINES ARE NOT PINCHED, THEREBY ENSURING PROPER FUEL FLOW.

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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