# NTSB ATL05LA020: Franzreb Loehle 5151 Mustang, N711AH, Athens, TN, November 5, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 5, 2004, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Athens, TN - Coordinates: 35.383335, -84.550003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3833&lon=-84.5500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FSDO 03 Nashville - NTSB case key (mKey): 60644 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60644/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05LA020 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to the electrical fuel pump failure, and fuel starvation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fuel system,pump - failure,total (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - fence ## Analysis The pilot was at cruise flight when the electric fuel pump failed. The pilot manually pumped the fuel to the engine, in an effort to restart the electric fuel pump. After 10 minutes of manually pumping the fuel, the pilot elected to perform an emergency landing. As the pilot maneuvered for the emergency landing, the airplane collided with a fence during landing. The airplane wreckage came to rest in an open field. Further examination revealed an electrical fuel pump failure during the flight. The maintenance history of the electric fuel pump disclosed that it had accumulated 280 hours of total time since new. ## Factual narrative On November 5, 2004 at 1330 eastern standard time, an experimental Loehle 5151 Mustang, N711AH, registered to and operated by a private pilot, collided into a fence on a farm in Athens, Tennessee. The personal flight operated under provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The pilot suffered serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated from Riley Creek Airport in Kingston, Tennessee on November 5, 2004 at 1130. The pilot was at cruise flight when the electric fuel pump failed. The pilot started to manually pump the fuel to the engine, trying to restart the electric fuel pump. After 10 minutes of manually pumping the fuel, the pilot elected to perform an emergency landing. The airplane collided with a fence during landing. Post-examination of the airplane revealed flight control continuity from the control surfaces to the control yoke. The airplane had separated at the midpoint of the fuselage. The horizontal and vertical stabilizers were still attached to the empennage. The right wing was broken at the wing root and located underneath the airplane wreckage. The left wing was broken at wing root and resting on top of the nose section. The cockpit was crushed and the fuselage was perpendicular to the empennage section of the airplane. One of the propeller blades was broken. Further examination revealed an electrical fuel pump failure during the flight. The maintenance history of the electric fuel pump disclosed that it had accumulated 280 hours of total time since new. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N711AH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N711AH-2005-11-01), registration cancelled 2005-11-01, S/N 6196, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Franzreb Loehle 5151 Mustang - Registry model: [Franzreb John K LOEHLE 5151 MUSTANG](https://openairdocs.org/model/franzreb-john-k-loehle-5151-mustang) (registry code 05603QT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6196 - Airframe hours: 2088.2 - Engines: Subaru EA-81 77 horsepower unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John K Franzreb, doing business as F-P Corp - Registered owner: F-P Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2004, 5.5 hours before - Departed: 12TN, Kingston, TN - Airport: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 1, 2004; seat: single; flight hours: 550 total, 280 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KOQT, 40 nm away ## 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 20041105030249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041105030249A), Nov 5, 2004: Amtr LOEHLE5151, Riceville, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft experienced engine power loss-in cruise flight. Pilot pumped gas bulb (boat style) for approximately 10 minutes to keep auto engine running.… 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.