# NTSB ERA11CA500: Spectrum RX 550, Hartland, ME, September 1, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 1, 2011, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Hartland, ME - Coordinates: 44.859165, -69.483612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8592&lon=-69.4836&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81880 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA500 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81880/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81880 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA500 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## 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 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: SPECTRUM RX 550 - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: None - Engines: 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. - 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 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 30, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81880. 2.2 MB in all. - Weather Reports and Records (KWVL METARs) (item 1, .PDF, 154 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356405&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20(KWVL%20METARs)-Master.PDF - Reports from Local Agencies (Pittsfield Police Incident Report) (item 2, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356402&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Local%20Agencies%20(Pittsfield%20Police%20Incident%20Report)-Redacted.PDF - Photograph of Accident Site (FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 617 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356392&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20of%20Accident%20Site%20(FAA)-Master.PDF - Photograph of Main Wreckage (FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 660 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356393&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20of%20Main%20Wreckage%20(FAA)-Master.PDF - Close Up Photograph of Main Wreckage (FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 727 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356394&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Close%20Up%20Photograph%20of%20Main%20Wreckage%20(FAA)-Master.PDF 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.