# NTSB LAX03LA217: Rans S-10 Sakota/A, N222EJ, Paulden, AZ, July 19, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 19, 2003, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Paulden, AZ - Coordinates: 34.882221, -112.476112 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8822&lon=-112.4761&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57338 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA217 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57338/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA217 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - starvation - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - open field - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) ## Analysis The engine in the pilot's experimental airplane suddenly lost all power during cruise flight about 2,000 feet above ground level. The pilot successfully restarted the engine twice using its primer control, but after seconds power was again lost each time. The pilot made a hard forced landing in the underlying open field and collided with a berm. The engine power loss resulted from fuel starvation for undetermined reasons. ## Factual narrative On July 19, 2003, about 0930 mountain standard time, a Rans, Inc. S-10 Sakota/A, N222EJ, experienced a loss of engine power while cruising near Paulden, Arizona. The pilot made a forced landing in an open dirt field. During the hard touchdown and rollout, the airplane collided with a berm and was substantially damaged. The private pilot received a minor injury. The experimental airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Seligman, Arizona, about 0900. According to the pilot, at departure for the 30-minute-long flight the airplane had about 8 gallons of fuel on board. The airplane was equipped with a Rotax model 582 engine that is rated at 65 horsepower. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that while cruising about 6,500 feet mean sea level (2,000 feet above ground level) the engine suddenly lost all power. Using the Rotax 582's engine primer control, he was able to restart the engine; however, it only operated for seconds before losing all power. The pilot reported that he was able to restart the engine a second time, but it failed to continue operating. Therefore he made a forced landing in the underlying field. The touchdown was hard. The pilot opined that the power loss that occurred resulted from an interruption to the flow of fuel, for undetermined mechanical reasons. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N222EJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N222EJ-2008-10-20), registration cancelled 2008-10-20, S/N 0388008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rans, Inc. S-10 Sakota/A - Registry model: [Rans S-10 SAKOTA/A](https://openairdocs.org/model/rans-s-10-sakota-a) (registry code 05610YU) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0388008 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald J. Mastrangelo - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: P23, Seligman, AZ - Destination: PRC, Prescott, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 17, 2002; seat: center; flight hours: 225 total, 13 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: PRC, 21 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 20030719016769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030719016769A), Jul 19, 2003: Amtr RANSS10, Paulden, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot (alone) experienced a fuel system failure and lost power while flying in the Paulden, AZ area. He was attempting to make an emergency landing @… 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.