# NTSB ERA13LA347: Durfee Fred Quicksilver MXL, N2590B, Lexington, TN, July 22, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 22, 2013, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Lexington, TN - Coordinates: 35.603332, -88.3675 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6033&lon=-88.3675&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87645 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA347 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87645/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87645 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA347 ## Probable cause The student pilot/builder’s failure to maintain airspeed following a loss of engine power, which resulted in an exceedance of the wing’s critical angle-of-attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot/builder’s inadequate procedures to ensure a clean fuel supply to the engine, which resulted in a clogged fuel filter and the subsequent loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Durfee Fred MXL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md?model=05904JZ), [All aircraft, 143 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Durfee Fred MXL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05904JZ), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Durfee Fred MXL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05904JZ), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Durfee Fred MXL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05904JZ), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Durfee Fred MXL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05904JZ), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Durfee Fred MXL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=05904JZ), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Durfee Fred MXL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05904JZ), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Durfee Fred MXL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05904JZ), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Durfee Fred MXL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05904JZ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot, who was also the builder of the airplane, took off from a pasture, and, shortly thereafter, the engine quit. The student pilot turned the airplane back toward the pasture, but while approaching it, the airplane stalled and then impacted the ground. The student pilot subsequently found that the fuel filter was clogged, which likely resulted in fuel starvation to the engine. According to the student pilot, he did not have a way to check the fuel quality onboard the airplane, and the airplane's last inspection was completed over 5 years earlier. The student pilot did not note when or if the fuel system had ever been flushed or if the fuel filter was ever changed, but he speculated that the containers he used to transport fuel from a local gas station might have collected dust over time from filling or draining. The student pilot reported only 10 hours of total flight time, all in the accident airplane make and model, which coincided with the 5+ years he had been operating the airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 2013, about 1400 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Quicksilver MXL, N2590B, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to the student pilot/builder's pasture in Lexington, Tennessee. The student pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight, which originated at the pasture and was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.According to the student pilot, he took off from the pasture and shortly thereafter, the engine quit. He headed the airplane back toward the pasture, but "it fell short." The student pilot's wife stated that after the engine quit, the airplane "dropped like a rock." A photograph of the side-by-side seated airplane provided by the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed impacted soil and fore-to-aft crushing in the vicinity of the left seat rudder pedals. The student pilot subsequently advised that he found that dirty fuel had plugged the fuel filter. He also noted that he had no way to check the fuel once it was on the airplane. He further stated that he utilized 93-octane, no ethanol fuel which he would buy at a local gas station and transport in "approved" containers. When questioned about the source of the dirt in the filter, he explained, "Best I can think of is dust from filling or draining over time." According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the student pilot, age 43 at the time of the accident, had obtained a student pilot certificate with a third class medical certificate in July 2009, making it valid through July 2014. The student pilot did not provide any evidence of flight instructor endorsement for the flight. The student pilot indicated 10 hours of total flight time, with 1 hour in the previous 30 days; all in the accident airplane make and model. FAA records indicated that the airplane was last registered in November 2007, and according to the student pilot, it had 10 hours of total operating time at the time of the accident. The student pilot did not indicate when or if he ever flushed the fuel system or changed the fuel filter, but did state that the airplane's last inspection was in January 2008. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2590B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2590B-2013-09-12), registration cancelled 2013-09-12, S/N 24050470, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DURFEE FRED QUICKSILVER MXL - Registry model: [Durfee Fred MXL](https://openairdocs.org/model/durfee-fred-mxl) (registry code 05904JZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582dcdi) (registry code 55562, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24050470 - Airframe hours: 10 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 13, 2008, 10 hours before - Departed: NONE, Lexington, TN - Destination: NONE, Lexington, TN - Airport: NONE, Private Airstrip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10 total, 10 in this make and model, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: MKL, 30 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 20130722018579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130722018579A), Jul 22, 2013: Durfee Fred MXL, Lexington, TN, Destroyed. The aircraft took-off from a private grass strip, circled the area around the strip and was preparing to land when it lost power. The pilot tried to climb over… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 22, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87645. 5.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420286&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Supplemental Information (item 2, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420287&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Supplemental%20Information-Redacted.PDF - Initial Notification (item 3, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420288&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Initial%20Notification-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420289&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.