CEN17LA011

The airline transport pilot was conducting the first flight test of the experimental, amateur-built airplane when, shortly after takeoff, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude, and the pilot conducted a forced landing to a tree nursery about 1 mile from the airport. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the mechanical fuel pump housing screws were slightly loose, and the fuel screen was not properly seated. Although an engine run and several high-speed taxi runs were conducted before the flight without any observed anomalies, it is likely that the pump housing screws further loosened during these tests and subsequently allowed air to enter the fuel system during flight, disrupting the fuel flow to the engine.

On October 3, 2016, about 1800 central daylight time, a Fokker DR-1 airplane, N83WR, experienced a loss of engine power and the pilot made a forced landing near Fulshear, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot was not injured 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 test flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local flight had just departed the Covey Trails Airport, Fulshear, Texas. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the airplane's construction had just been completed by the owner and the accident flight was the airplane's first test flight. The owner asked the accident pilot to conduct the test flight. Prior to the accident flight the owner secured the airplane to a fixed object and completed a full power engine run with no anomalies noted. The airplane was then subjected to eight high-speed taxi runs conducted. A few small oil leaks were observed from the rocker box covers; the gaskets were replaced and the oil leaks were resolved. Later, the pilot departed from X09 and experienced a partial loss of engine power during the initial climb and the airplane was not able to maintain altitude. The pilot made a forced landing into a tree nursery about one mile from X09. The spars on all three right wings were damaged. The owner reported that the Rotex R3600 engine was received new with 0 hours on March 31, 2016. The engine was installed on the airplane and had accumulated about 4 hours of tests runs prior to the accident flight. The FAA inspector conducted a postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system. The examination revealed that the fuel filter and gascolator were clear of contaminants and the engine was unremarkable. The fuel pressure regulator and throttle body injector were disassembled and no anomalies were noted. The mechanical fuel pump was disassembled and housing screws were slightly loose and the fuel screen was not seated properly. The engine manufacturer stated that their products are experimental and there is no standard installation for the engine, only guidelines. This leaves the owner free to experiment with the engine and fuel system installation.