# NTSB ERA15CA295: Stol JA30 Superstol, N556TW, West Union, SC, August 2, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 2, 2015, 17:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: West Union, SC - Coordinates: 34.752777, -82.993057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7528&lon=-82.9931&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Prior to flight: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91700 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA295 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91700/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91700 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA295 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power while maneuvering due to water contamination in the fuel. ## 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: [Stol JA30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05633DF), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stol JA30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=05633DF), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Stol JA30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=05633DF), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Stol JA30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05633DF), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Stol JA30 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05633DF), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he and the passenger were nearing the conclusion of a local flight when the engine began to "sputter and run rough." The engine momentarily ran smooth before it began to run rough a second time, followed by a total loss of power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing, and stated that engine power was restored just prior to impact with trees and terrain. The airplane came to rest upright, and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. During a postaccident wreckage examination, a 1-quart fuel sample was drained from the airplane, and about half of the sample was water. The pilot stated that prior to the accident flight, he had mistakenly fueled the airplane from a container of contaminated fuel. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he and the passenger were nearing the conclusion of a local flight when the engine began to "sputter and run rough." The engine momentarily ran smooth before it began to run rough a second time, followed by a total loss of power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing, and stated that engine power was restored just prior to impact with trees and terrain. The airplane came to rest upright, and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. During a postaccident wreckage examination a 1-quart fuel sample was drained from the airplane, and about half of the sample was water. The pilot stated that prior to the accident flight, he had mistakenly fueled the airplane from a container of contaminated fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N556TW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N556TW-2023-01-05), registration cancelled 2023-01-05, S/N JA294-03-13, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STOL LLC JA30 SUPERSTOL - Registry model: [Stol JA30 SUPERSTOL](https://openairdocs.org/model/stol-ja30-superstol) (registry code 05633DF) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JA294-03-13 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 370.9 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Stol LLC - Registered owner: Stol LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 20, 2015 - Departed: N/A, Walhalla, SC - Destination: N/A, West Union, SC - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review March 1, 2015; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KCEU, 7 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 20150802016279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150802016279A), Aug 2, 2015: Stol LLC JA30 SUPERSTOL, West Union, SC, Substantial damage. Pilot stated the he took his neighbor for an afternoon pleasure ride. After 40 minutes of flying the pilot reported engine failure. The pilot was not able to… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91700. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 216 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433301&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433302&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 499 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433303&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 2 photos, 530 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433304&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.