# NTSB ANC23LA078: Rhodes Steven D SR3500, N907W, Nenana, AK, September 17, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 16, 2023, 16:00 local (Sep 17, 2023, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Nenana, AK · Tundra - Coordinates: 64.650753, -149.83691 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.6508&lon=-149.8369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 193088 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193088/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193088 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA078 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing was the owner/builder’s inadequate maintenance. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Rhodes Steven D SR3500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=05618QO), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) - [Knowledge: knowledge of equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Rhodes Steven D SR3500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md?model=05618QO), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel filter-strainer](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022821): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Rhodes Steven D SR3500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022821/cases.md?model=05618QO), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022821/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Rhodes Steven D SR3500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05618QO), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while enroute he noticed a slight rise in engine gas temperature (EGT) with a slight decrease in fuel consumption. Then engine power surged followed by a rapid decrease in power. The pilot performed a forced landing to the tundra and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the fuel inlet screen into the fuel control unit was clogged, which prevented fuel from entering the engine. The pilot, who was the owner/builder, was unaware of the requirements to inspect and clean the fuel control inlet filter. The filter had been in operation for about 12 to 13 years before the accident. The installation service manual recommends that the owner/mechanic inspect and clean the fuel control inlet filter after break-in and at condition inspections or during annual inspections. The lack of maintenance of the fuel control inlet screen filter resulted in the screen becoming clogged and the subsequent fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On September 16, 2023, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Murphy Moose SR 3500 airplane, N907W, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Nenana, Alaska. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Pilot reported that, while en route in a float-equipped airplane, he noticed a slight rise in EGT with a slight decrease in fuel consumption. The engine was operating normally, but the pilot noted at a slight reduction in power output. Then the engine power began to surge followed by a rapid decrease in power. The pilot made a left turn into the wind and towards a large lake to perform an emergency landing. About 200 ft above ground level the engine lost total power. The pilot stated he did not have sufficient altitude to land on the lake; he elected to perform a forced landing to the tundra. After touchdown, the airplane slid for about 75 ft and then nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed all the fuel lines from the gascolator to the engine fuel control unit contained fuel. The fuel inlet screen into the fuel control unit was clogged with fine nonmetallic debris which prevented fuel from entering the engine. The filter was installed about 12 to 13 years before the accident. According to the service manual, the filter should be cleaned after a break-in period, and then after every 50 hours of operation. The manual also recommends removing and cleaning the fuel filters during condition and annual inspections. The pilot, who was also the owner/builder, was unaware of the requirements to inspect and clean the fuel control inlet filter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N907W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N907W), registered now, S/N 173SR, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RHODES STEVEN D SR3500 - Registry model: [Rhodes Steven D SR3500](https://openairdocs.org/model/rhodes-steven-d-sr3500) (registry code 05618QO) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 173SR - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 720.7 - Engines: Barret Precision M-14P 400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 3, 2022, 15 hours before - Departed: PVT, Nowitna River, AK - Destination: PANN, Nenana, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Satellite tracking device, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 30,712 total, 720 in this make and model, 28,200 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 10 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F - METAR: METAR PANN 162353Z AUTO 06006KT 10SM CLR 14/03 A2906 RMK AO2 SLP845 T01390033 10150 20078 56017 TSNO= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20230917014039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230917014039A), Sep 17, 2023: Rhodes Steven D SR3500, Nenana, AK, Substantial damage. Slight rise in EGT (engine temp) and slight decrease in gph (gal per hour) fuel flow indicated. Power reduced rapidly and surging. Engine stopped 200' AGL.… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193088. 6.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17409838&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA078%206120_Redacted-Rel-Rel.pdf - Roc - engine manufacturer (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16241693&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Barrett%20Engine%20record%20of%20conversation-Rel.pdf - Engine examination (item 3, PDF, 14 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16241259&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA078%20Engine%20examination-Rel.pdf - Excerpts - fuel control installation manual (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 584 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16241543&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20fuel%20control%20manuall-Rev.-J-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 775 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16241435&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA078%20Photos-Rel.pdf 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. --- 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.