# NTSB CEN12LA483: Eipper Quicksilver MXL II, Goodrich, MI, July 21, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 21, 2012, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Goodrich, MI - Coordinates: 42.918888, -83.505554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9189&lon=-83.5056&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: East Michigan FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84468 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA483 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84468/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84468 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA483 ## Probable cause The operation of an unregistered and unairworthy airplane by a non-certificated pilot. Contributing to the accident was the non-certificated pilot’s improper preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to water/debris contamination in the fuel. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot had just departed from and was returning to land on a lake in an unregistered experimental airplane when the engine stopped producing power. He was unable to glide back to the water and the airplane collided with a tree and a house near the shoreline. When the airplane was examined, water and debris were found in the fuel system. The pilot stated that he conducted a preflight inspection before the accident flight and that he was “afraid [he] missed something.” A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records revealed the airplane had not been issued an FAA airworthiness certificate. ## Factual narrative On July 21, 2012, at 1500 central daylight time, an unregistered and float-equipped, amateur built-experimental Eipper Quicksilver MXL Sport II airplane, sustained substantial damage after a total loss of engine power while maneuvering to land on Lake Shinanguag near Goodrich, Michigan. The non-certificated pilot sustained minor injuries and his passenger was seriously hurt. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The non-certificated pilot said that shortly after he departed the lake, he elected to return to land due to turbulence. While on the downwind leg, the engine stopped producing power. He was unable to land back on the water and collided with a tree adjacent to the shoreline. When the airplane was examined, water was found in the carburetor bowls and fuel lines. What appeared to be fuel tank material was also found in the fuel filter and main fuel tank. A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records revealed the airplane had not been issued an FAA airworthiness certificate. ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: EIPPER Quicksilver MXL II - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 000799 - Airframe hours: 90 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Al Rowinski - Registered owner: None-Aircraft not registered - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: None, Goodrich, MI - Destination: None, Goodrich, MI - Airport: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; flight hours: 110 total, 80 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: FNT, 12 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 21, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84468. 607 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 538 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378884&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Information from FAA (item 2, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378858&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Information%20from%20FAA%20-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.