# NTSB IAD05LA147: Hanson VariEze, N220EZ, New Cumberland, PA, September 4, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 4, 2005, 17:54 local (21:54 UTC) - Place: New Cumberland, PA - Coordinates: 40.216667, -76.849998 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2167&lon=-76.8500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62394 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD05LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62394/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05LA147 ## Probable cause The owner/builder's inadequate fuel tank inspection during construction, which resulted in fuel contamination and subsequent fuel starvation to the engine. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, owner/builder (cause) - fluid,fuel - contamination,other than water - fuel system,screen - blocked(total) - fluid,fuel - starvation - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ground - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis The airplane had been airborne for about 5 minutes when the engine lost power. The pilot then force landed in a field, and the airplane nosed over. During a post-accident examination, the propeller was replaced, and the engine was started and operated for about 5 minutes at 1,700 rpm. The fuel system was also examined, and the fuel screens in both fuel tanks were found to be covered in a "fine muddy silt," consistent with mud dauber activity. A subsequent fuel analysis revealed that particulate contamination and gum levels were "very high." The fuel tanks had been open during the airplane's construction, and the airplane had about 30 hours of operation at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On September 4, 2005, at 1754 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt VariEze, N220EZ, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot incurred minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight, which originated at Capital City Airport (CXY), New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane had been airborne about 5 minutes when the engine lost power. The pilot then force landed in a field, and the airplane nosed over. During a post-accident examination of the airplane, the propeller was replaced, and the engine was started and operated for about 5 minutes at 1,700 rpm. The fuel system was also examined, and the fuel screens in both fuel tanks were found to be covered in a "fine muddy silt." A subsequent fuel analysis revealed that "particulate contamination and gum levels [were] very high." The fuel tanks had been open during the airplane's construction, and the airplane had about 30 hours of operation at the time of the accident. The pilot held a private pilot certificate. On his latest application for an FAA third class medical certificate, dated May 1, 2003, he reported 70 hours of flight time. Despite multiple requests and a verbal assurance that he would do so, the pilot did not return a NTSB Form 6120.1, as required per 49 CFR 831, which may have provided additional information regarding this event. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N220EZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N220EZ), registered now, S/N 32050 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hanson VariEze - Registry model: [Hanson David VARI EZ](https://openairdocs.org/model/hanson-david-vari-ez) (registry code 05618SO) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 32050 - Airframe hours: 30 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David Hanson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 1, 2005, 30 hours before - Departed: CXY, New Cumberland, PA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; seat: front; flight hours: 70 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: CXY, 3 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 20050904023469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050904023469A), Sep 4, 2005: Amtr VARIEZ, New Cumberland, PA, Destroyed. (-23) The subject aircraft experienced an engine shut down after approximately 5 minutes of flight. An emergency landing in a hillside farm field resulted in… 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.