# NTSB DFW08CA016: Ward RC 350 HP, N901RC, Magnolia, TX, October 18, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 18, 2007, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Magnolia, TX - Coordinates: 30.25, -95.650001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2500&lon=-95.6500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Houston, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 66927 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66927/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA016 ## Probable cause The in-flight fire and loss of engine power as a result of a ruptured fuel line for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - fuel system,line - ruptured (cause) - Fire, cruise - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - fence post - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 3,000-hour private pilot reported that the experimental single-engine airplane was in cruise flight at 1,500 feet on a VFR cross-country when heat and smoke began to enter the cockpit. In a written statement, the pilot/owner stated that a steel-braided fuel line/hose ruptured and subsequently sprayed fuel on the exhaust and ignition wires, which caused intense heat that burned a hole thru the airplane's firewall. The pilot added that he immediately elected to initiate a forced landing to a field, and shortly before the airplane touched-down, the engine stopped producing power. The airplane landed short of the field and the left wing collided with two large fence posts and ruptured the fuel tank, which caused it to explode. The pilot and the two passengers exited the airplane from the right side before the airplane was completely consumed by fire. The pilot reported that the airplane's maintenance logbooks were onboard the airplane and were destroyed by the fire. He also stated that the fuel line was approximately three-years old, and he did not know how the rupture could have been prevented. The homebuilt airplane was reported to have accumulated a total of 677-hours and was powered by a 350 cubic inche Chevrolet engine. ## Factual narrative The 3,000-hour private pilot reported that the experimental single-engine airplane was in cruise flight at 1,500 feet on a VFR cross-country when heat and smoke began to enter the cockpit. In a written statement, the pilot/owner stated that a steel-braided fuel line/hose ruptured and subsequently sprayed fuel on the exhaust and ignition wires, which caused intense heat that burned a hole thru the airplane's firewall. The pilot added that he immediately elected to initiate a forced landing to a field, and shortly before the airplane touched-down, the engine stopped producing power. The airplane landed short of the field and the left wing collided with two large fence posts and ruptured the fuel tank, which caused it to explode. The pilot and the two passengers exited the airplane from the right side before the airplane was completely consumed by fire. The pilot reported that the airplane's maintenance logbooks were onboard the airplane and were destroyed by the fire. He also stated that the fuel line was approximately three-years old, and he did not know how the rupture could have been prevented. The homebuilt airplane was reported to have accumulated a total of 677-hours and was powered by a 350 cubic inche Chevrolet engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N901RC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N901RC-2013-09-24), registration cancelled 2013-09-24, S/N 015, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ward RC 350 HP - Registry model: [Ward R C 350 HP](https://openairdocs.org/model/ward-r-c-350-hp) (registry code 05603O6) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 015 - Airframe hours: 677 - Engines: Chevrolet 350 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: Both - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Elzie J. Warren - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: CXO, Conroe, TX - Destination: IWS, Houston, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 3,000 total, 700 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F 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.