- Date
- April 2, 2000, 10:26 local (15:26 UTC)
- Place
- Maple Plain, MN
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N196KWWeinzierl Titan Tornado II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 17, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000402006339A
- Case key
- 48897
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the obstructed fuel system filter, the inadequate silicone material the builder used, and the rough and uneven terrain. A factor was that suitable landing terrain was not available.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane sustained substantial damage on contact with terrain during a forced landing after a loss of engine power on takeoff. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The pilot stated, 'I was departing to the east. I climed to about 200 ft. when the engine stoped I turned back for a field. I hit the field and the plane overturned.' The field was rough and uneven. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the hull, wing tips, and tail. The engines fuel filter was found clogged with silicone used as a fuel tank sealant. The plugged filter was a sintered bronze filter. The Rotax installation manual states, 'A suitable fuel filter of 0.15 mm mesh size must be fitted between pump and carburetor. Do not use paper filters. The fuel tank must have a drain cock for condensed water. A screen of 0.3 mm mesh size should be fitted to the fuel line in the tank.' The pilot's safety recommendation was, 'Don't use silicone to seal any type of fuel tanks or exc.'
Factual narrative
On April 2, 2000, at 1026 central daylight time, a Weinzierl Titan Tornado II, piloted by a private pilot sustained substantial damage on contact with terrain during a forced landing after a loss of engine power on takeoff from Maple Airport, near Maple Plain, Minnesota. The local flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. No flight plan was on file. The personal flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated, "I was departing to the east. I climed to about 200 ft. when the engine stoped I turned back for a field." The airport owner stated that the field was rough and uneven. He stated, "I hit the field and the plane overturned." He further stated that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the hull, wing tips, and tail.
The pilot examined the wreckage and found a clogged fuel filter. The fuel filter was plugged with silicone used as a sealant in the fuel tank. See appended photo.
The plugged filter was identified as a Plastisonics, Inc., sintered bronze, model FF704C series filter. The fuel filter was designed for 1/4-inch fuel lines. See appended filter specification sheet.
The Rotax installation manual states, "A suitable fuel filter of 0.15 mm mesh size must be fitted between pump and carburetor. Do not use paper filters. The fuel tank must have a drain cock for condensed water. A screen of 0.3 mm mesh size should be fitted to the fuel line in the tank." See appended installation manual.
The pilot's safety recommendation was, "Don't use silicone to seal any type of fuel tanks or exc."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N196KW
- Reported as
- Weinzierl Titan Tornado II (TITAN TORN)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- D96618SOK020
- Engine
- Rotax, 80 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kevin Leon Weinzierl
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- MN69 · MN
- Airport
- MN69 · Maple Airport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 490 total · 325 in this make and model · 38 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 11,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MSP, 21 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.