# NTSB CEN17LA011: Fokker DR-1, N83WR, Fulshear, TX, October 3, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 3, 2016, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Fulshear, TX - Coordinates: 29.652221, -95.842498 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6522&lon=-95.8425&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 6, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 94159 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94159/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94159 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA011 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to the improper assembly of the mechanical fuel pump. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel pumps](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [William F Russell FOKKER DR-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822/cases.md?model=05634PJ), [All aircraft, 71 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822/cases.md) - [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [William F Russell FOKKER DR-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=05634PJ), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel pumps](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [William F Russell FOKKER DR-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822/cases.md?model=05634PJ), [All aircraft, 71 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [William F Russell FOKKER DR-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05634PJ), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83WR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83WR), registered now, S/N 103, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FOKKER DR-1 - Registry model: [William F Russell FOKKER DR-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/william-f-russell-fokker-dr-1) (registry code 05634PJ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Verner SCARLETT-9S](https://openairdocs.org/engine/verner-scarlett-9s) (registry code 63707, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 103 - Year built: 2015 - Engines: Rotec R3600 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: X09, Fulshear, TX - Destination: X09, Fulshear, TX - Airport: X09, Covey Trails, runway 17, 3,352 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 23,000 total, 0 in this make and model, 18,850 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: KTME, 9 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 20161003016169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161003016169A), Oct 3, 2016: William F Russell FOKKER DR-1, Fulshear, TX, Substantial damage. The aircraft was anchored to the ground and satisfactorily completed a full power trial. The aircraft maintained maximum power with no issues noticed. The… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94159. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 502 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448426&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 2, .PDF, 449 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448427&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - FAA Information (item 3, .PDF, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448428&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Information-Master.PDF - Rotec Information (item 4, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448429&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Rotec%20Information-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 4 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448430&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.