LAX00LA070

During a visual approach, as the airplane was turned onto the base leg, the engine stagnated as the pilot attempted to add power. Unable to increase engine power, the pilot force landed in an open farm field. Just before touchdown, he ejected from the airplane. He was seriously injured when seat-man separation was not achieved. Maintenance records were not available for the engine. While the reason for the engine's failure to accelerate was not determined, an analysis of fuel from the airplane revealed there was significant particulate contamination in the fuel.

On January 8, 2000, at 1450 hours Pacific standard time, an experimental Hawker Siddeley Hunter F MK 4, N72602, collided with the ground during a forced landing while on a visual approach to the Chino Airport, Chino, California. The airplane, operated by Jetech Leasing, Inc., sustained substantial damage. The airplane collided with a farm field 1/2 mile short of the runway after the pilot ejected from the airplane. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a ferry flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Mojave, California, at 1430.

The pilot reported that he had begun his turn to the base leg and had extended the flaps to 80 degrees. As he attempted to add power to account for the increased drag, the engine did not respond. While on the downwind leg the engine had been set at 6,500 rpm. The throttle was fully increased with no change in the engine power. He selected an empty field for a forced landing, leveled the wings, aimed for the field, partially raised the flaps, and continued the descent toward the field with partial engine power. As he approached the ground, within a few hundred feet, the pilot saw power lines in his path. He attempted to jettison the canopy "but the system did not work" he stated. He elected to fly under the power lines. Shortly before touchdown in the empty field, the pilot initiated an ejection. His next recollection was of being told to lie still. The ejection seat separated from the airplane and came to rest in the field near the airplane.

The pilot reported that on January 6, 2000, he traveled to Mojave anticipating that the airplane would soon be ready to ferry. He stated that most of the maintenance had been done prior to his arrival. He operated the engine at high power settings for the mechanics on the 6th. The mechanics continued the inspections and servicing on the 7th and he repeated the engine runs. On Saturday, January 8, the pilot flew a local flight in the traffic pattern. He performed three touch-and-go landings exercising the flaps, landing gear, and the flight controls. The airplane was then fueled with sufficient fuel to fly to Chino, plus reserves.

Following the forced landing and accident, a salvage operator subsequently moved the wreckage to Compton, California.

During the postcrash examination of the airplane, pebbles and dirt were observed in the engine intake from the intake entrance to the area of the Inlet Guide Vanes (IGV's). There was no visible damage to the IGV's. The exhaust duct contained a small amount of dirt. There was continuity of the low pressure turbine to the compressor with freedom of rotation.

Maintenance records for the engine were not available. A fuel sample from the left wing fuel tank was analyzed. The analysis indicated that there was particulate contamination of 11.5 mg/l. The analysis report stated that the "rule-of-thumb" industry limit for particulate contamination is about 1 mg/l.

The pilot held a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to operate the airplane. The LOA was issued to the pilot on February 10,1999, by an operations inspector in the Arizona Flight Standards District Office. It expired on February 28, 2001. An entry in the pilot's log reflected three landings in the airplane on January 8, 2000, at Mojave.