# NTSB FTW01LA110: Perlick Avid Commuter, N142LP, Crawford, TX, April 28, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 28, 2001, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Crawford, TX - Coordinates: 31.529706, -97.439613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5297&lon=-97.4396&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52177 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52177/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA110 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power on takeoff initial climb due to fuel starvation as a result of an air blocked fuel line. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel system,line - blocked(total) (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - building(nonresidential) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The amateur-built experimental airplane had not been flown for a period of time. During the preflight, at the owner's direction, the old fuel was drained. Subsequently, nine gallons of fuel were put in the aircraft. No discrepancies were noted during the runup and pretakeoff taxi. During the takeoff/initial climb, when the pilot banked the airplane to the right the engine "stopped running." The airplane was 150-200 feet agl and there were a building and trees in the forced landing flight path. The pilot turned the airplane left for landing in a corn field; however, as he flared the airplane, he "felt a tremendous sink rate, then the impact." The airplane flipped to the inverted position. The aircraft owner reported that "air blocked the line to the header fuel tank." ## Factual narrative On April 28, 2001, at 1830 central daylight time, a Perlick Avid Commuter amateur-built experimental airplane, N142LP, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Crawford, Texas. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that he was flying the aircraft as a prerequisite for possibly purchasing the aircraft. The aircraft had not been flown for a period of time and the fuel was "old." During the preflight, at the owner's direction, the fuel was drained. Subsequently, nine gallons of fuel were put into the aircraft. Following the aircraft run up at the north end of the runway, the pilot taxied the airplane to the south end of the runway and back to the north end of the runway for departure. There were no discrepancies during the run up and pretakeoff taxi. During the takeoff/initial climb, the pilot banked the airplane to the right with the intention of remaining over the airport. Immediately after banking the airplane, the engine "stopped running." The airplane was 150-200 feet agl, and there were a building and trees in the forced landing flight path. The pilot turned the airplane left for landing in a corn field; however, as he flared the airplane, he "felt a tremendous sink rate, then the impact," and the airplane flipped to the inverted position. The aircraft owner reported to the FAA inspector, who responded to the site, that "air blocked the line to the header fuel tank." Both wings and the wing struts were damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N142LP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N142LP-2018-03-13), registration cancelled 2018-03-13, S/N 849 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Perlick Avid Commuter - Registry model: [Perlick Larry J AVID COMMUTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/perlick-larry-j-avid-commuter) (registry code 05620BU) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 849 - Airframe hours: 131 - Engines: Rotax 582LC 64 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Darwin Sonders - Registered owner: Kenneth P. Grisham - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 1, 2000, 3 hours before - Departed: Crawford, TX - Airport: Scott Field (Private), runway 18, 2,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 29, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 203 total, 0 in this make and model, 159 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F ## 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 20010428009819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010428009819A), Apr 28, 2001: Crawford, TX, No damage. (-23)On 04/28/2001, an avid commuter amateur built experimental airplane was substanially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing following a… 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.