# NTSB ERA18CA035: Driggers Quillan E Titan Tornado, N50F, Mechanicsville, VA, November 29, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 29, 2017, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Mechanicsville, VA - Coordinates: 37.708057, -77.300277 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7081&lon=-77.3003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96402 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18CA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96402/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96402 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18CA035 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and failure to detect water contamination in the fuel system, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power on takeoff. ## 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 · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Driggers Quillan E TITAN TORNADO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=056037V), [All aircraft, 1,696 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: [Driggers Quillan E TITAN TORNADO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=056037V), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Driggers Quillan E TITAN TORNADO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=056037V), [All aircraft, 1,696 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Driggers Quillan E TITAN TORNADO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=056037V), [All aircraft, 1,558 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Driggers Quillan E TITAN TORNADO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=056037V), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Driggers Quillan E TITAN TORNADO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056037V), [All aircraft, 3,368 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Driggers Quillan E TITAN TORNADO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056037V), [All aircraft, 2,290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot/owner reported that the engine lost partial power after takeoff and that he then conducted a forced landing to a field. The airplane nosed over during the landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that he subsequently disassembled and examined the airplane and that he found water in the fuel tank, which explained the partial loss of engine power. The pilot's failure to conduct an adequate preflight inspection and to detect water in the fuel system before takeoff led to the partial loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative The airplane's engine lost partial power after takeoff and the pilot/owner performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane nosed over during the landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and vertical stabilizer. The pilot subsequently disassembled and inspected the airplane following the accident and reported that he had found water in the fuel tank, which explained the partial loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50F-2021-07-31), registration cancelled 2021-07-31, S/N 175, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DRIGGERS QUILLAN E TITAN TORNADO (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Driggers Quillan E TITAN TORNADO](https://openairdocs.org/model/driggers-quillan-e-titan-tornado) (registry code 056037V) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 175 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 495 - Engines: Jabiru 2200 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 11, 2017, 0 hours before - Departed: VA50, Mechanicsville, VA - Destination: VA50, Mechanicsville, VA - Airport: VA50, Woods Farm Airstrip, runway 14, 2,200 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review July 11, 2010; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 615 total, 160 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days, 0.1 in the last 30 days, 0.1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KOFP, 6 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 20171129018899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171129018899A), Nov 29, 2017: Driggers Quillan E TITAN TORNADO, Hanover County, VA, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that shortly after takeoff while turning crossind the aircraft lost power. While executing an off field emergency landing the nose gear… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 8, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96402. 5.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470213&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector - Memorandum for Record (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470214&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20-%20Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470215&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.