# NTSB ERA15LA373: Vanek Jim Sport Copter Vortex, N179V, Lake Wales, FL, September 24, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 2015, 10:50 local (14:50 UTC) - Place: Lake Wales, FL - Coordinates: 27.893888, -81.620552 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8939&lon=-81.6206&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 2, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 92051 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA373 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92051/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92051 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA373 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to a lean fuel/air mixture as a result of a disconnected fuel primer line. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Vanek Jim SPORT COPTER VORTEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=056041M), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/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 (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Vanek Jim SPORT COPTER VORTEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=056041M), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Vanek Jim SPORT COPTER VORTEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056041M), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the initial climb, the sport pilot of the gyroplane noticed that the engine began to lose power, and he attempted to return to the airport. The engine continued to lose power and the pilot made a forced landing in a field. During the landing sequence, the gyroplane rolled over and sustained damage to the airframe. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel primer line was brittle and disconnected. The pilot stated that all of the fuel lines had been recently replaced, with the exception of the primer line. It is likely that the disconnected fuel primer line caused an excessively lean air/fuel mixture ratio, which resulted in the loss of engine power during the climb. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 2015, about 1050 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Sport Copter Vortex gyroplane, N179V, was substantially damaged following a collision with terrain during a forced landing near Lake Wales, Florida. The sport pilot sustained minor injuries. The gyroplane was privately owned and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at the airport about the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight originated from the Lake Wales Municipal Airport (X07), Lake Wales, Florida, at 1045.According to the pilot, he conducted an engine run-up prior to takeoff and all systems were normal. During the initial climb, he made a left crosswind turn and climbed to approximately 300 feet. He noticed that the engine began to lose power and made a left downwind turn in an attempt to return to the airport. The engine continued to lose power and the pilot attempted a forced landing in a field. During the landing sequence, the gyroplane rolled over and sustained damage to the airframe. An examination of the gyroplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuel line on the primer valve was brittle and disconnected. The primer was operated and fuel was noted to leak from the primer fitting. In a conversation with the pilot he said that all of the fuel lines had been previously replaced except the primer line. Correspondence with a representative of the engine manufacturer revealed that a breached primer line can create a lean air/fuel ratio, thus resulting in a loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N179V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N179V-2016-04-14), registration cancelled 2016-04-14, S/N 007, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANEK JIM SPORT COPTER VORTEX (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Vanek Jim SPORT COPTER VORTEX](https://openairdocs.org/model/vanek-jim-sport-copter-vortex) (registry code 056041M) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 007 - Year built: 2007 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: X07, Lake Wales, FL - Destination: X07, Lake Wales, FL - Airport: X07, Lake Wales - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 324 total, 73 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: X07, 1 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 20150924016639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150924016639A), Sep 24, 2015: Vanek Jim SPORT COPTER VORTEX, Lake Wales, FL, Substantial damage. The airman stated that the engine experienced a partial loss of power during departure climb and although the engine continued to run he could not maintain… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 11, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92051. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455222&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455223&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Engine Manufacturer Representative Correspondence (item 3, .PDF, 279 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455224&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Manufacturer%20Representative%20Correspondence-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455225&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.