# NTSB CHI00LA167: Rans Employee Flying Club Rans S-12 XL, N43886, Prairie Du Sac, WI, June 18, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 18, 2000, 16:35 local (21:35 UTC) - Place: Prairie Du Sac, WI - Coordinates: 43.290088, -89.72068 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2901&lon=-89.7207&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49494 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49494/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA167 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of an obstructed fuel nozzle. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system,carburetor - corroded (contributing factor) - fuel system,nozzle - obstructed (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - encountered, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot said that during climb after takeoff, the engine '...coughed and sputtered for approximately 5-7 sec[onds] then quit. I put the nose down and turned [right] into the wind [heading] 270, which would have landed us on the airfield. At 100 [feet] we were at 50 mph (stall 43 mph) and I attempted a restart when we were pushed to the right by a gust of wind. I put in left rudder and aileron and we stalled out. We impacted the ground wings level and nose slightly low.' No anomalies were found with respect to the airframe or control system that could be associated with a preexisting condition. During an engine teardown inspection, the carburetor float chambers were examined and were found to have contamination consistent with corrosion. This contamination was found in the bottom of the float bowl and on the main jet retainer plate. The main jet was removed and contamination particles were found in this area as well. ## Factual narrative On June 18, 2000, at 1635 central daylight time, an amateur-built Rans S-12XL Airaile, N43886, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while returning to land following a loss of engine power during initial climb after takeoff. The aircraft was departing from runway 18 (2,940 feet by 32 feet, dry asphalt), at the Sauk-Prairie Airport, Prairie Du Sac, Wisconsin. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and was not on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. In a written statement, the pilot said that during climb after takeoff, the engine "...coughed and sputtered for approximately 5-7 sec[onds] then quit. I put the nose down and turned [right] into the wind [heading] 270, which would have landed us on the airfield. At 100 [feet] we were at 50 mph (stall 43 mph) and I attempted a restart when we were pushed to the right by a gust of wind. I put in left rudder and aileron and we stalled out. We impacted the ground wings level and nose slightly low." No anomalies were found with respect to the airframe or control system that could be associated with a preexisting condition. During an engine teardown inspection performed by the Federal Aviation Administration and a representative of the engine manufacturer, the carburetor float chambers were examined and were found to have contamination consistent with corrosion. This contamination was found in the bottom of the float bowl and on the main jet retainer plate. The main jet was removed and contamination particles were found in this area as well. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43886](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43886-2000-11-01), registration cancelled 2000-11-01, S/N 05960717 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rans Employee Flying Club RANS S-12 XL (RANS S-12) - Registry model: [Rans Employee FLG Club RANS S-12XL AIRAILE](https://openairdocs.org/model/rans-employee-flg-club-rans-s-12xl-airaile) (registry code 05605Z9) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 05960717 - Airframe hours: 128 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John H. Mcafee - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2000, 8 hours before - Departed: 91C - Airport: 91C, Sauk-Prairie Airport, runway 18, 2,940 × 32 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; military, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 7,127 total, 73 in this make and model, 5,180 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 10 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DLL, 14 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 20000618042849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000618042849A), Jun 18, 2000: Amtr RANSS12XL, Prairie Du Sac, WI, Destroyed. (-23) On June 18, 2000, at approximately 1635 CST, a rans S-12 xl airaile, N43886, registered to and operated for pleasure under 14 CFR part 91 by Mr. John h.… 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.