- Date
- October 11, 1995, 18:25 local (23:25 UTC)
- Place
- Neenah, WI
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N42BXRoisum Team MINI-MAX
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report December 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951011032929A
- Case key
- 10130
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
Fuel starvation due to fuel filter blockage. Factors associated with the accident were the manufacturers design of the fuel filter and the builder/pilots decision to use an automotive type fuel filter.
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 pilot reported he was cruising at 2000 feet when the aircraft experienced a total loss of engine power. The aircraft was substantially damaged during an off airport landing. An investigation found a fuel filter retaining nut on the automotive type fuel filter had rotated causing the fuel inlet holes to become blocked. The automotive type fuel filter was purchased by the aircraft owner from a homebuilt aircraft part supplier.
Factual narrative
On October 11, 1995, at 1825 central daylight time (cdt), a Roisum Team Mini-Max, N452BX, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged after a forced landing on a road. The aircraft avoided hitting a semi trailer, but collided with a ditch. The pilot reported a total loss of engine power while on a cross country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported minor injuries. The flight departed Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, at 1650 cdt.
An on scene investigation was conducted by an FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI). The PMI found a fuel filter retaining nut on the automotive type fuel filter had rotated, causing its inlet holes to become blocked. The fuel filter was purchased by the builder/pilot from a homebuilt aircraft supplier. The PMI said that the fuel filter nut could have been safetied to prevent rotation. During a phone conversation with the builder/pilot he agreed with the PMI as to the cause of the total power loss.
The aircraft's fuel filter was also examined by the NTSB IIC. The IIC confirmed that the N452BX's fuel filter retaining nut could loosen causing complete blockage of the fuel inlet holes. A new fuel filter the same part number as the one on N452BX was obtained. The IIC found the new fuel filter's retaining nut was easily removed by hand. Investigation also revealed that complete blockage of the new fuel filter was not possible, due to the differences in shaft length between the accident aircraft's fuel filter and the new fuel filter. The reason for the differences in shaft length was not determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N42BX
- Reported as
- Roisum Team MINI-MAX
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 177
- Airframe hours
- 179
- Engine
- Rotax 503, 55 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- David R. Roisum
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 7, 1995 · 23 hours before
- Departed
- SUE · Sturgeon Bay, WI
- Destination
- 79C · WI
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
- 40
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 391 total · 179 in this make and model · 324 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 240° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ATW, 7 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.