# NTSB CEN17LA251: Cody Hawkins JA30 Superstol, N2463H, Ponca City, OK, July 2, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 2017, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Ponca City, OK - Coordinates: 36.654167, -97.085556 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6542&lon=-97.0856&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95484 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA251 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95484/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95484 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA251 ## Probable cause Contamination of the fuel system, resulting in a partial loss of engine power and subsequent off-airport landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel injector nozzle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057313): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057313/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: 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) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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 private pilot was conducting a local flight in an experimental airplane. During takeoff, the pilot thought that the airplane's performance was sluggish. The pilot indicated that the airplane started to lose lift, so he reduced the control stick input. He maneuvered the airplane around trees, but the airplane continued to descend, so the pilot decided to land. The airplane made a hard landing, causing the airplane's landing gear to collapse because it was sideloaded, and the airplane then skidded into a tree. During a postaccident examination, a repair station noted contamination in one of the fuel jets and both carburetors. After replacing the fuel jet and cleaning the carburetors, the engine produced normal power. The cause of the contamination could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On July 2, 2017, about 1430 central daylight time, an Cody Hawkins JA30 SuperSTOL airplane, N2463H, collided with trees and terrain near Ponca City, OK. The private rated pilot and passenger were 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 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight was departing from a private field at the time of the accident.According to information provided by the pilot, during the initial climb, the airplane's performance felt sluggish. The pilot added that the airplane started to lose lift, so the he reduced back stick pressure. The pilot maneuvered around trees and descended into terrain. The airplane's landing gear was side-loaded during the landing and collapsed. The airplane then slid to a stop. Substantial damage was sustained to the fuselage and wings. The Rotax 914 UL2-01 engine was transported to a repair facility to be returned to service. The mechanic reported that when he functionally tested the engine, it run "rough." Further inspection of the engine found a fouled fuel jet and contaminants in the carburetors. The source of the contaminants could not be determined. After the cleaning the carburetors and replacing the idle jet, the engine produced normal power. ## Aircraft - Registration: N2463H (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CODY HAWKINS JA30 SUPERSTOL (NO SERIES) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JA483-1-16 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 56.1 - Engines: Rotax 914 UL2-01 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 2017, 70 hours before - Departed: PRIV, Ponca City, OK - Destination: PRIV, Ponca City, OK - Airport: PRIV, Personal airstrip, runway 170, 1,200 × 100 ft, dirt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 2, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 877 total, 43 in this make and model, 877 as pilot in command, 121 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: PNC ## 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 20170702009789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170702009789A), Jul 2, 2017: Superstol JA30, Ponca City, OK, Substantial damage. On July 2, 2017 at approximately 1430 CST, a JA30 Superstol, aircraft registration number N2463H, experienced loss of engine power during takeoff climout while… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95484. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461437&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Mechanic (item 2, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461438&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Mechanic-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.