# NTSB ERA22LA277: Hawker Hunter, N337AX, Wilmington, NC, June 20, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 20, 2022, 15:50, time zone not recorded
- Place: Wilmington, NC
- Location: 34.2257° N, 77.9447° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wilmington, NC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB coordinates: 33.769722, -77.488889, outside the stated state
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2257&lon=-77.9447&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105301
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA277
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105301/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105301
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA277

## Probable cause

A bearing failure in the high-pressure fuel pump, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Fuel system: fuel pumps](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Hawker HAWKER HUNTER MK.58, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822/cases.md?model=4231004), [All aircraft, 71 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Hawker HAWKER HUNTER MK.58, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=4231004), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Hawker HAWKER HUNTER MK.58, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=4231004), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Hawker HAWKER HUNTER MK.58, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=4231004), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The vintage military jet was being operated under an experimental certificate. The airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power over an ocean at flight level 240. Specifically, the engine rpm reduced and stabilized to about 5,000. The pilot knew that 6,800 to 7,200 rpm would be required to maintain altitude and return to an airport. After two unsuccessful attempts to restore engine power, the pilot ejected at 3,000 ft mean sea level. The fuel system was examined at a maintenance facility after the wreckage was recovered from the ocean. The examination revealed that a bearing failed in the high-pressure fuel pump governor, which prevented pump output pressure from increasing above 850 pounds per square inch (psi); the operating range limit was between 1,900 to 2,200 psi.

## Factual narrative

On June 20, 2022, about 1550 eastern daylight time, an experimental Hawker Hunter MK.58, N337AX, was substantially damaged when it impacted the Atlantic Ocean about 40 miles southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina. The commercial pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 public use flight. According to the operator, while performing an exercise with the US Navy, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power at flight level 240. Specifically, the rpm reduced and stabilized to about 5,000. The pilot knew that 6,800 to 7,200 rpm would be required to maintain altitude and return to an airport. After two unsuccessful attempts to restore engine power, the pilot ejected from the airplane at 3,000 ft mean sea level. The pilot was subsequently rescued by a nearby fishing vessel; however, he suffered a serious back injury during the ejection. The fuel system was examined at a maintenance facility after the wreckage was recovered from the ocean. The examination revealed that a bearing failed in the high-pressure fuel pump governor, which prevented pump output pressure from increasing above 850 psi; the operating range limit was between 1900 to 2200 psi.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N337AX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N337AX-2025-12-05), registration cancelled 2025-12-05, S/N 41H-697456, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HAWKER HUNTER (Mk.58)
- Registry model: [Hawker HAWKER HUNTER MK.58](https://openairdocs.org/model/hawker-hawker-hunter-mk-58) (registry code 4231004) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce AVON MK207](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-avon-mk207) (registry code 54224, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 41H-697456
- Year built: 1959
- Airframe hours: 5165
- Engines: Avon 203/7 10150 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Public aircraft, Public use
- Operator: Airborne Tactical Advantage Company
- Registered owner: Hunter Aviation International
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: AAIP, January 13, 2022, 19 hours before
- Departed: PHF, Newport News, VA
- Destination: NKT, Cherry Point, NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Onboard weather, ADS-B, Data recorder

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 19, 2021; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 4,865 total, 486 in this make and model, 4,620 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: KILM, 41 nm away
- METAR: KILM 201953Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 31/08 A3019

## 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 20220620010809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220620010809A), Jun 20, 2022: Hawker Aircraft Ltd HAWKER HUNTER MK.58, Destroyed. Prelim info from FAA ops: wilmington, nc/general aviation incident/1615E/[privacy data omitted], Hawker hntr, reported possible engine trouble and crashed into…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105301. 171 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14241265&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for the record (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16311726&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR1-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14242073&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-Rel.pdf
- Video explaining high pressure fuel pump governor bearing failure - courtesy lortie aviation (mov, 2 min 33 sec, 164MB) (item 4, MOV, 168 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14242235&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=Fuel%20pump%20explanation%20-Rel.MOV

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.

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