# NTSB ERA11LA142: Kennedy Michael M Lancair 320, N351E, Dawsonville, GA, February 13, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 13, 2011, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Dawsonville, GA - Coordinates: 34.351943, -84.041389 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3519&lon=-84.0414&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 1, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78341 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78341/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78341 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA142 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and failure to detect water-contaminated fuel, which resulted in a loss of engine power. ## 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) ## 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-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis After about 25 minutes of flight, the pilot began transferring fuel from the left and right main fuel tanks to the 10-gallon header tank which fed the engine. Ten minutes after completing that operation, the engine began to lose power. The pilot activated the fuel boost pumps and adjusted the throttle and mixture controls. He stated that the engine surged as though it was running out of fuel. When engine power could not be restored, the pilot performed a forced landing to the median of a divided highway, and a hard landing resulted in substantial damage to the left wing tip, rudder, and propeller. A postacciddent examination of the fuel filter revealed traces of sediment and water, while the gascolator bowl contained water and debris. The filter and bowl were then reinstalled and an engine run was completed using the airplane’s own battery and fuel system. The engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption. ## Factual narrative On February 13, 2011, about 1100 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Kennedy Lancair 320, N351E, was substantially damaged after a loss of engine power and forced landing near Dawsonville, Georgia. The certificated commercial pilot/owner and the private pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed Gwinnett County Airport (LZU), Lawrenceville, Georgia, about 1020, and was destined for Barrow County Airport (WDR), Winder, Georgia. In a written statement, the pilot/owner gave a comprehensive account of the preflight planning, preflight inspection, takeoff, and flight to an area north of his departure airport with no anomalies noted. Once established in an area clear of traffic, the pilot allowed his passenger to do some maneuvering, and become accustomed to the airplane, as it was his first flight in a Lancair. After about 25 minutes of flight, the pilot/owner began transferring fuel from the left and right main fuel tanks to the 10-gallon “header tank” which fed the engine. Ten minutes after completing that operation, the engine began to lose power. The pilot said that he resumed control of the airplane and performed troubleshooting that included activating the fuel boost pumps and adjusting throttle and mixture controls. When engine power could not be restored, the pilot elected to conduct a forced landing to a roadway, as the nearest airport selected on his GPS receiver was beyond the glide distance of the airplane. The pilot described the engine power as “surging, like it was running out of fuel.” The pilot described maneuvering close to the ground to avoid wires and road traffic, and the resultant hard landing to a median in the roadway. The passenger’s account of events by telephone and his written statement were consistent with the pilot’s. The pilot/owner held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine and multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) first class medical certificate was issued April 2010. The pilot reported approximately 1,900 total hours of flight experience, and approximately 500 hours of experience in Lancair airplanes. The pilot-rated passenger held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land. His most recent FAA third class medical certificate was issued June 2009. The passenger reported approximately 230 total hours of flight experience, none of which was in Lancair airplanes. According to maintenance records, the airplane had accrued 479 total aircraft hours. Its most recent conditional inspection was completed on February 1, 2010, at 437 total aircraft hours. The 1105 weather observation at Cherokee County Airport (47A), 21 miles west of the accident site, included clear skies and winds from 260degrees at 3 knots. The visibility was 10 miles. The temperature was 12 degrees C and the dew point was -1 degrees C. The altimeter setting was 30.30 inches of mercury. Examination of the airplane at the scene by an FAA inspector revealed the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing tip, rudder, and propeller. A detailed examination was performed in Griffin, Georgia, on February 17, 2011, by the same inspector. The propeller was replaced, and the fuel filter and gascolator were inspected. The fuel filter showed only traces of sediment and water, but the gascolator bowl contained water and debris. The filter and bowl were then reinstalled in preparation for an engine run. An engine start was then attempted on the airframe, utilizing the airplane’s own battery and fuel system. The engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption. ## Aircraft - Registration: N351E (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: KENNEDY MICHAEL M LANCAIR 320 - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: MK01 - Airframe hours: 479 - Engines: Lycoming IO 320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Reister William L - Registered owner: Reister William L - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 1, 2010, 42 hours before - Departed: LZU, Lawrenceville, GA - Destination: WDR, Winder, GA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 11, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,900 total, 500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: 47A, 21 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 20110213002739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110213002739A), Feb 13, 2011: Kennedy Mic LANCAIR 320, Dawsonville, GA, Substantial damage. Aircraft N351E was at approximately 5000' MSL when the aircraft engine began to sputter and lose airspeed and altitude. PIC made the decision to land on… ## Docket (12 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78341. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354458&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilots Statements (item 2, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354459&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilots%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Pilots Interview Summaries (item 3, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354460&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilots%20Interview%20Summaries-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 4, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354462&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 5, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354463&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Front View of Wreckage (FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354477&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Front%20View%20of%20Wreckage%20(FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Side View of Airplane Wreckage (FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354478&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Side%20View%20of%20Airplane%20Wreckage%20(FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3: View of Fuel and Water Drained from Airplane (FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354410&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20View%20of%20Fuel%20and%20Water%20Drained%20from%20Airplane%20(FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 4: Another View of Fuel and Water Drained from Airplane (FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354411&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%3A%20Another%20View%20of%20Fuel%20and%20Water%20Drained%20from%20Airplane%20(FAA)-Master.PDF - Global Positioning System Device - Specialist's Factual Report (item 10, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355251&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Global%20Positioning%20System%20Device%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Global Positioning System Device - Specialist's Factual Report - Attachment 1 (item 11, .CSV, 2 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355252&FileExtension=.csv&FileName=Global%20Positioning%20System%20Device%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report%20-%20Attachment%201-Master.csv - Global Positioning System Device - Specialist's Factual Report - Attachment 2 (item 12, .CSV, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355253&FileExtension=.csv&FileName=Global%20Positioning%20System%20Device%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report%20-%20Attachment%202-Master.csv 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.