CEN12LA245

The pilot was in cruise flight when the engine momentarily lost power before stopping completely. The pilot switched fuel tanks and turned on the carburetor heat, but the engine did not respond. The pilot noted that the fuel pressure gauge indicated zero. The pilot then conducted a forced landing in a nearby field. An initial examination of the engine did not reveal any abnormalities; however, a later inspection of the airplane and engine revealed that a fuel line was cracked. It is likely that the cracked fuel line prevented the fuel pump from drawing fuel from the tank, resulting in the loss of fuel pressure and the subsequent loss of engine power.

On April 13, 2012, about 1330 eastern daylight time, an experimental, light sport Zodiac XL airplane, N4337G, performed a forced landing in a field after a loss of engine power near Medina, Ohio. The private rated pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed the Columbia Airport (4G8), Columbia Station, Ohio, at 1330, and was flying to the Medina Municipal Airport (1G5), Medina, Ohio. The pilot reported that during the flight everything was normal and then the engine momentarily lost power, before the engine stopped. The pilot turned on the carburetor heat and changed fuel tanks by switching the fuel selector valve from both to the left and then to the right tank. The pilot added that the fuel pressure gauge normally reads 5 pounds of pressure, but it indicated zero. The engine did not respond, so he elected to conduct a force landing in a nearby field. The responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the airplane nose gear collapsed during the forced landing, and that substantial damage was done to the firewall and minor damage to the airplane’s wing. He added that a visual exam of the engine did not reveal any pre-impact abnormalities. The pilot/owner reported that after the airplane had been recovered and in preparing the airplane for repair, that he and an aircraft mechanic found a crack in a fuel line. The pilot added that with a crack in the fuel line, the fuel pump could not properly draw fuel from the fuel tank.