# NTSB BFO95LA073: Kemp ACRO-SPORT II, N27727, Honeoye Falls, NY, June 23, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 1995, 17:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: Honeoye Falls, NY - Coordinates: 42.950717, -77.589889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9507&lon=-77.5899&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 6, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9063 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO95LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9063/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO95LA073 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and his misjudging of the touchdown during the forced landing. Related factors are the pilot's improper maintenance, and fuel contamination. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - maintenance,rebuild/remanufacture - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Hard landing, emergency descent/landing - touchdown - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - Occurrence ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE FLIGHT PREVIOUS TO THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRPLANE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING TRAFFIC PATTERN OPERATIONS. THE PILOT MADE A SUCCESSFUL EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD ABOUT 3/4 OF A MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT STATED THAT UPON EXAMINATION, HE FOUND WATER AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE PILOT DRAINED FUEL UNTIL CONTAMINANTS WERE NO LONGER VISIBLE, THEN DECIDED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE BACK TO THE AIRPORT. HE REPORTED THAT WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ENTERING THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AGAIN. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON THE RUNWAY, BUT IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PRIVATE PILOT/AIRPLANE OWNER HAD REASSEMBLED THE AIRPLANE, WHICH HAD BEEN HANGARED FOR FIVE YEARS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT DRAIN THE CARBURETOR BOWL OR FLUSH THE FUEL TANK/SYSTEM DURING THE REASSEMBLY. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD ACCUMULATED A TOTAL OF 3 TO 4 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME SINCE REASSEMBLY. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 1995, at 1750 eastern daylight time, a Kemp Acro-Sport II, N27727, was destroyed after it impacted the ground during a forced landing at Honeoye Falls Airport, Honeoye Falls, New York. The private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. No flight plan had been filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector reported that the pilot/airplane owner purchased and reassembled the aircraft which had been hangared for 5 years. The pilot stated that during reassembly of the airplane he did not drain the carburetor bowl, or flush the fuel tank. He stated that the airplane had flown about 3 to 4 hours since it was reassembled. The pilot stated that on the flight prior to the accident flight, the engine lost power during traffic pattern operations. A successful emergency landing was made in a field, approximately 3/4 of a mile from the airport. The pilot reported that he got a car ride back to the airport, gathered some tools, and returned to the airplane to check the engine. He stated that he found no mechanical problems; however, when he drained the sump, he found water and other unknown contaminants. The pilot reported that he drained fuel until he did not see any contaminants, then decided to fly the airplane back to the airport. He indicated that when the airplane was reentering the airport traffic pattern, the engine lost power again. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing on the runway, but the airplane impacted the ground approximately 100 feet short of the runway. During postaccident examination of the wreckage, the FAA Inspector found fuel in the system that measured approximately one third of the system's capacity. Unknown particles/contaminants were detected in the fuel samples drained from the tank and the carburetor bowl. Closer examination revealed black particles approximately 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch found in the samples. The source of these particles was unknown. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27727](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27727-2017-07-12), registration cancelled 2017-07-12, S/N 516, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KEMP ACRO-SPORT II (ACRO-SPORT) - Registry model: [Covey John L ACRO SPORT II](https://openairdocs.org/model/covey-john-l-acro-sport-ii) (registry code 05646BA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 516 - Airframe hours: 797 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A1A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kemp, John D. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 9, 1995, 200 hours before - Departed: HONEOYE FALLS, NY - Destination: D70 - Airport: D70, Honeoye Falls, runway 1, 1,685 × 90 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 120 total, 4 in this make and model, 120 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ROC, 5 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 19950623047559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950623047559A), Jun 23, 1995: Amtr ACROSPORT, Honeoye Falls, NY, Substantial damage. Lost power on departing D70. Landed farm field. Engine ran. Took off for return D70. Engine quit again on final. 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.