# NTSB CEN12LA245: Nelson Sydney/Nelson Diann Zodiac XL, N4337G, Medina, OH, April 13, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 13, 2012, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Medina, OH - Coordinates: 41.37994, -81.639533 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3799&lon=-81.6395&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83405 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA245 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83405/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83405 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA245 ## Probable cause A cracked fuel line, which resulted in a loss of fuel pressure and subsequent loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel pressure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022844): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Nelson Sydney/Nelson Diann ZODIACXL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022844/cases.md?model=05901RM), [All aircraft, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022844/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057310): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Nelson Sydney/Nelson Diann ZODIACXL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057310/cases.md?model=05901RM), [All aircraft, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057310/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Nelson Sydney/Nelson Diann ZODIACXL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=05901RM), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Nelson Sydney/Nelson Diann ZODIACXL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05901RM), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Nelson Sydney/Nelson Diann ZODIACXL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05901RM), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4337G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4337G), registered now, S/N 6391, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NELSON SYDNEY/NELSON DIANN ZODIAC XL - Registry model: [Nelson Sydney/Nelson Diann ZODIACXL](https://openairdocs.org/model/nelson-sydney-nelson-diann-zodiacxl) (registry code 05901RM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34801, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6391 - Airframe hours: 419 - Engines: Jabiru 3300A 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 3, 2011 - Departed: 4G8, Columbia Statio, OH - Destination: 1G5, Medina, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review July 6, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 201 total, 52 in this make and model, 201 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KAKR ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20120413006999I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120413006999I), Apr 13, 2012: Nelson Sydney/Nelson Diann ZODIACXL, Medina, OH, Minor damage. On Friday April 13, 2012 aircraft N4337G, an experimental amatuer built zenith zodiac xl, was flying in the pattern of columbia station airport (4G8) and… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 7, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83405. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 544 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387839&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Maps or Charts of Accident Area, Wreckage Diagrams (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387840&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps%20or%20Charts%20of%20Accident%20Area,%20Wreckage%20Diagrams-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Damaged airplane (FAA photo) (item 3, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387841&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Damaged%20airplane%20%20%20%20%20%20(FAA%20photo)-Master.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.