# NTSB ERA24LA040: Bell Andy Skyraider II, N90AB, Limington, ME, November 16, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 16, 2023, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Limington, ME - Coordinates: 43.763028, -70.672472 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7630&lon=-70.6725&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193395 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193395/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA040 ## Probable cause The failure of the fuel pump to adequately supply fuel to the engine due to significant corrosion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel pump](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057314): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Andy SKYRAIDER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057314/cases.md?model=05611WE), [All aircraft, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057314/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Andy SKYRAIDER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=05611WE), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Bell Andy SKYRAIDER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05611WE), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis After a short local flight in the experimental amateur-built airplane, the pilot landed, taxied back, and took off to practice landings. Shortly after takeoff, during the initial climb as he crossed the end of the runway at 300 ft above ground level, the engine suddenly lost power for several seconds, regained partial power, then stopped producing power again. The power continued to fluctuate but remained about 800 rpm below full power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and continued to fly the runway heading to land in a field that was bordered by trees. The airplane continued to descend, and the pilot was unable to clear the treetops. The airplane impacted the trees, then impacted the terrain in a nose-down attitude, resulting in substantial damage to the wings. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed the carburetor was intact and there was no fuel discovered in the lines between the engine-driven fuel pump and the carburetor. Upon further examination, the engine-driven fuel pump contained a substantial amount of corrosion. Although the pilot stated he had turned on the auxiliary fuel pump, no fuel was found in the fuel lines leading into the carburetor. It is likely that the corrosion in the engine-driven fuel pump led to a sporadic ability to provide adequate fuel to the engine, resulting in a partial loss of power from fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On November 16, 2023, at 1230 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Skyraider II, N90AB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Limington, Maine. The private pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. After a short local flight, the pilot elected to perform some practice landings at Limington-Harmon Airport (63B) Limington, Maine, his home-base airport. After landing, the pilot taxied back to the beginning of runway 29 and attempted another takeoff. During initial climb, as he was passing over the end of the runway and climbing through 300 ft above ground level, the engine suddenly lost power for several seconds, regained partial power, then stopped producing power again; the increases and decreases in power continued to fluctuate, but remained about 800 rpm below full power. According to the pilot, there were at least 8 gallons of fuel on board for the flight and the engine typically consumed about 4 gallons per hour. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and continued to fly the runway heading where he planned a forced landing toward a farm pasture that was straight ahead and bordered with trees. Unable fly over the trees, the airplane impacted the tops of the trees, then descended to impact the terrain in a nose-down attitude, resulting in substantial damage to the wings. The pilot egressed the airplane, walked out of the woods, and called the authorities. A postaccident wreckage examination confirmed engine crankshaft and valvetrain continuity and that there was adequate compression on each of the cylinders. The carburetor was intact. There was no fuel present in the lines between the engine-driven fuel pump and the carburetor; upon further examination, the engine-driven fuel pump contained a substantial amount of corrosion. In addition, fuel was found in the fuel filter upstream of the electric fuel pump but not after. Although the pilot stated he had turned on the auxiliary fuel pump, no fuel was found in the fuel lines leading into the carburetor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90AB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N90AB), registered now, S/N SRII014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL ANDY SKYRAIDER II - Registry model: [Bell Andy SKYRAIDER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-andy-skyraider-ii) (registry code 05611WE) (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: SRII014 - Year built: 2002 - Engines: Jabiru 2200 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Airport: 63B, Limington-Harmon, runway 29, 2,973 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 800 total, 3 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: IZG, 18 nm away - METAR: KIZG 161654Z AUTO 10003KT 10SM CLR 13/01 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP216 T01280006 ## 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 20231116018149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231116018149A), Nov 16, 2023: Bell Andy SKYRAIDER II, Limington, ME, Substantial damage. On November 16, 2023, 1230 EST, @ Limington-Harmon Airport (63B) - Limington, Maine, a Skyraider II experimental aircraft impacted the ground due to lost of… 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.