- Date
- October 17, 1990, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Maricopa, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N119JHJoseph W. Hillbrand Sonerai IIL
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 23, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19901017047059A
- Case key
- 26950
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
An engine failure due to improper fuel.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot of the homebuilt experienced a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. The aircraft touched down on the runway and collided with a bush next to runway. The aircraft departed the runway, hit a culvert, cartwheeled, and nosed over onto its back. The pilot stated this was the second attempt to takeoff after experiencing engine power surges on the first try. The pilot also stated he had filled the fuel tanks with automotive fuel which contained an mtbe additive. The engine examination revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N119JH
- Reported as
- Joseph W. Hillbrand Sonerai IIL (SONERAI II)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 01576L
- Engine
- Volkswagen CONVERSION, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Hillebrand, Joseph W.
- Registered owner
- Hillebrand, Joseph W.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport
- E 31 · Ak Chin, runway 35, 2,900 × 50 ft, gravel
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 69
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.