# NTSB DFW07LA087: PZL 101A, N69NV, Spicewood, TX, March 25, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 25, 2007, 10:58 local (15:58 UTC) - Place: Spicewood, TX - Coordinates: 30.477777, -98.121109 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4778&lon=-98.1211&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: SAT Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 65487 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65487/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07LA087 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to water contamination in the fuel system. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain available for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system - contamination,water (cause) - fuel tank selector position - incorrect, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - high vegetation - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The vintage experimental airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff during the first flight of the day. The 9,000-hour private pilot attempted to execute a left-hand pattern to land opposite direction on the runway. The 285-horsepower 9 cylinder radial engine sustained an additional reduction of power which the pilot was unable to correct. The pilot elected to land the tailwheel-equipped airplane in a group of trees located straight ahead of his flight path. The pilot and passenger were able to exit the airplane unassisted. An examination of the wreckage by the pilot revealed that the auxiliary fuel tank selector lever was in the open position; however, he had insured that the selector was in the closed position during his pre-flight inspection. The pilot suspects that water had contaminated the fuel in the auxiliary tanks resulting in the loss of engine power. The airplane had approximately 80 gallons of fuel aboard at the time of the mishap. ## Factual narrative On March 25, 2007, at 1058 central daylight time, a single-engine PZL-101A experimental airplane, N69NV, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a reported loss of engine power during takeoff from the Spicewood Airport (88R), near Spicewood, Texas. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The Polish-built airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The 9,000-hour private pilot reported that following takeoff from runway 17, and while climbing out and passing through 500 feet above ground level, the 9-cylinder 285 horsepower radial engine lost power without warning. The pilot added that he continued to fly the airplane with partial power and elected to make a left-hand pattern for approach to runway 35 instead of landing on the south end of runway 17 due to the unsuitable terrain conditions. While executing the left hand pattern, the pilot reported that the engine lost additional power, and he began searching for a suitable landing area. Unable to find any suitable landing area at his disposal for the forced landing, the pilot elected to continue straight-ahead into a group of trees rather than into the houses to his left or the hangars to his right. The tailwheel-equipped airplane impacted the trees and came to rest in a nose-low attitude in the upright position. Both the pilot and his passenger were able to exit the airplane unassisted. The pilot reported that he confirmed there were 80 gallons of fuel aboard the 1969 vintage airplane prior to his departure. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that traveled to the accident site confirmed that the airframe sustained structural damage to the bottom side of the empennage, aft of the baggage compartment. The leading edges of both wings were also damaged, the empennage was buckled and twisted to the right, and the right horizontal stabilizer and right elevator were also structurally damaged. There was no post-impact fire. After the airplane wreckage was removed from the trees and recovered to the pilot's hangar, the pilot performed a detailed post-crash inspection of the engine and airframe. The pilot reported that he found the auxiliary fuel tank selector lever in the open position which he concluded must have been inadvertently moved with his left foot while assisting the passenger with the shoulder harness prior to the flight. The pilot explained that the auxiliary fuel tank lever is located on the floor outboard of the left rudder pedal. The pilot indicated that during pre-flight when he drained the fuel valve, the auxiliary tanks were closed. He further stated that he suspects there was water in the auxiliary fuel tanks that had entered the carburetor just after takeoff resulting in the loss of engine power. At 1053 CDT, a weather reporting station at Burnet, Texas, located 16 miles north of the accident site, reported wind from the south-southeast at 6 knots, 10 miles visibility, temperature of 66 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point of 61 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.21 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N69NV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N69NV-2007-11-15), registration cancelled 2007-11-15, S/N 119297, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PZL 101A - Registry model: [PZL 101A](https://openairdocs.org/model/pzl-101a) (registry code 056034J) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 119297 - Airframe hours: 2836 - Engines: Ivchenko AI-14RC 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2007 - Departed: 88R, Spicewood, TX - Destination: 88R, TX - Airport: 88R, Spicewood, runway 35, 2,600 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 9,000 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KBMQ, 16 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 20070325003519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070325003519A), Mar 25, 2007: Pzlwar PZL101A, Spicewood, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 25, 2007, approximately 10:00 am, the pilot in command departed Spicewood airport, Spicewood, Texas, on runway 17. Approximately midfield and… 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.