# NTSB LAX02LA263: Pravecek Lawrence Varieze, N42231, Rio Linda, CA, August 25, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 24, 2002, 20:00 local (Aug 25, 2002, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Rio Linda, CA - Coordinates: 38.676109, -121.445556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6761&lon=-121.4456&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55554 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA263 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55554/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA263 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power caused by fuel exhaustion due to a fuel tank leak. Also causal was the inadequate maintenance performed on the repair of the fuel tank by unknown maintenance personnel. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - maintenance - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - fuel system - leak (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The experimental amateur-built airplane lost engine power while the student pilot was turning onto an extended final approach. The airplane impacted trees and terrain short of the runway. The pilot reported that the right fuel tank ruptured in flight. An FAA inspector, who examined the airplane following the accident, reported that the right fuel tank had been patched to prevent fuel leakage on at least two separate occasions. The inspector noted fuel leaking around the patches; which eventually resulted in fuel exhaustion. The airplane underwent its last annual inspection 6 months prior to the accident. According to the pilot, the previous owner had the patches applied. ## Factual narrative On August 24, 2002, at 2000 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Pravecek Lawrence Varieze, N42231, lost engine power while turning onto final approach and impacted trees and terrain short of runway 35 at the Rio Linda Airport (Q94), Rio Linda, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Q94 about 1940, and was scheduled to terminate at Q94. The pilot stated that he was number two to land behind a banner tow airplane, and he elected to extend the base leg for spacing. During the turn to final, the airplane lost engine power, and the airplane started to shake. The pilot attempted to add engine power, but "didn't have any." The airplane impacted trees on the approach end of the runway and came to rest upright. In a written statement submitted by the pilot, he stated that the "right fuel tank ruptured in flight" and the airplane lost power. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane following the accident. According to the inspector, the airplane and fuel storage cells were made of fiberglass. The inspector discovered a patch on the outboard trailing edge of the right wing. He reported that the patch covered another patch and that fuel was leaking around the patches. The inspector believed this resulted in the airplane "running out of gas." The pilot told the inspector that the previous owner/builder had the patches applied. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the airplane's last annual inspection occurred on February 18, 2002, at an airplane total time of 721 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42231](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42231-2013-06-07), registration cancelled 2013-06-07, S/N 788, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Pravecek Lawrence Varieze - Registry model: [Pravecek Lawrence E VARIEZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/pravecek-lawrence-e-varieze) (registry code 05609KR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 788 - Airframe hours: 721 - Engines: Continental C90-14 95 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Blaise D. Perock - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 18, 2002, 704 hours before - Departed: Q94, Rio Linda, CA - Destination: Q94, Rio Linda, CA - Airport: Q94, Rio Linda, runway 17, 2,600 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 54; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 150 total, 75 in this make and model, 110 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: SMF, 6 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 20020824024279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020824024279A), Aug 24, 2002: Amtr VARIEZE, Riolinda, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot of N42231 stated he was number one in the traffic pattern for the rio linda airport when a banner tow aircraft dropped his banner. The pilot… 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.