- Date
- September 1, 2011, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Hartland, ME
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- UNREGSpectrum RX 550
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Fuel contamination
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 18, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- Case key
- 81880
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
A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that, while on a local flight, he was circling a field when the engine stopped running. He then executed a forced landing to the field, which was not uniformly level. During the landing the right wing hit the ground and the airplane cartwheeled before coming to rest upside down. The pilot stated that he believed that water got into the gasoline, which caused the engine to stop running. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the wing was substantially damaged. No registration number was present on the airplane and no data plate was present on either the airplane or the engine. Review of Federal Aviation Administration records revealed that the airplane was not registered and the pilot was not certificated. The FAA also advised the NTSB that no maintenance records were recovered.
Factual narrative
While on a local flight, the pilot of the experimental amateur built airplane experienced a total loss of power. When public safety personnel asked the pilot how the accident occurred he advised that he was circling a field when the engine stopped running. He then executed a forced landing to the field which was not uniformly level. During the landing the right wing hit the ground; the airplane cartwheeled, and then came to rest upside down. When the pilot was asked how the loss of power had occurred, he advised public safety personnel that he believed that water got into the gasoline which caused the engine to stop running. Examination of the airplane by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors revealed the wing was substantially damaged. No registration number was present on the airplane, and no data plate was present on either the airplane or the engine. Review of FAA records revealed the airplane was not registered, and the pilot was not certificated. The FAA also advised the NTSB that no maintenance records were recovered. Despite multiple attempts by NTSB investigators to contact the pilot, no phone calls were returned, correspondence from the NTSB went unanswered, and no NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report was received.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Spectrum RX 550
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- None
- Engine
- Rotax, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Unknown
- Departed
- Hartland, ME
- Destination
- Hartland, ME
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Injuries
- Minor
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 0 total · 0 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- WVL, 22 nm away
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 30, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.2 MB in all.