# NTSB BFO94LA147: Rans S-14 Airaile, Phoenixville, PA, August 24, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 23, 1994, 20:25 local (Aug 24, 1994, 00:25 UTC)
- Place: Phoenixville, PA
- Coordinates: 40.130718, -75.509429 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1307&lon=-75.5094&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8967
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA147
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8967/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA147

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to perform a preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft preflight - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel system,carburetor - contamination,water (contributing factor)
  - fuel system - starvation
- Forced landing, emergency landing
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP HEADING WEST.  DURING THE CLIMB HE MADE A 90 DEGREE TURN NORTHBOUND.  THE ENGINE STOPPED SUDDENLY, AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO TURN RIGHT TO THE SOUTH.  THE AIRPLANE CROSSED OVER THE RUNWAY, AND THEN MADE A LEFT 180 TO 270 DEGREE TURN.  THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES SOUTH OF THE RUNWAY.  POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE AFT CARBURETOR FUEL BOWL CONTAINED WATER.  AN ENGINE TEST RUN WAS PERFORMED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE FAA.  THE FAA STATED THAT THE ENGINE RAN SMOOTHLY.  A WITNESS STATED THAT HE OBSERVED THE PILOT PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, AND STATED 'NO PREFLIGHT INSPECTION DONE.'  THE STUDENT PILOT'S TOTAL FLIGHT TIME WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED.

## Factual narrative

On August 23, 1994, about 2025 eastern daylight time, a Rans S-14 Airaile, an unregistered, homebuilt airplane, was destroyed, during a forced landing at a private airport in Pheonixville, Pennsylvania.  The student pilot received fatal injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

A witness stated,

[The] pilot started aircraft by hand propping.  No      preflight inspection [was] done.  [The] pilot taxied      out of parking area to east end of [the] runway and      commenced [the] takeoff run to the west.  Aircraft      climbed sharply after take off and then made [a] 90      degree right turn and continued climbing to      approximately 300-400 feet of altitude.  Engine      stoppage occurred at a 180 degree turn to the right,      followed by noticeable porposing of [the] aircraft as      it continued across [the] runway, followed by entrance      into 180-270 degree turn to [the] left.  Lost sight of      [the] aircraft [and] heard crash sounds....

The airplane came to rest south of the runway, where it impacted trees.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, initial examination indicated the presence of water in the aft carburetor bowl.  Additionally, a fuel vent shut off valve was found in the closed position.

An engine test run was performed by Kolb Aircraft Inc., of Pheonixville, Pennsylvania, under the supervision of the FAA.  The engine test run results stated that the engine ran smoothly.

The student pilot's total flight time was unable to be determined.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: RANS S-14 AIRAILE (S-14 AIRAI)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 0892036
- Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sjostrom, Richard Anders
- Destination: N10, COLLEGEVILLE, PA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Observed at: IPT, 93 nm away

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.

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