# NTSB LAX96LA293: Thompson Long EZ TR, N42DJ, Yucca Valley, CA, July 28, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 27, 1996, 17:28 local (Jul 28, 1996, 00:28 UTC) - Place: Yucca Valley, CA - Location: 34.1298° N, 116.4069° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at YUCCA VALLEY (L22), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1298&lon=-116.4069&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 16, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29526 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA293 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29526/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA293 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation due to the internal failure of the electric fuel pump and the subsequent fuel flow blockage to the gascolator. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system,electric boost pump - failure,total (cause) - fuel system,line - blocked(total) (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis The pilot reported that the aircraft was about 300 feet agl in the takeoff initial climb when the engine suddenly quit, restarted momentarily, then quit altogether. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but had insufficient altitude and he landed in soft desert terrain. The aircraft nosed over during the landing roll. An FAA airworthiness inspector examined the aircraft. He reported that the left fuel tank was selected, and that tank contained about 3 gallons of fuel. The right tank contained 5 gallons. No mechanical discrepancies were identified with the engine during the examination. The pilot is an airframe and powerplant mechanic and reported that his aircraft is equipped with both engine driven and electric fuel pumps which are plumbed in series. He stated that following recovery of the aircraft he performed functional tests on the fuel system. With the electric fuel pump turned on very little fuel would flow from the pump outlet line. When the electric pump was removed from the lines, the flow rate to the gascolator was measured at 12 gallons per hour. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 1996, at 1728 hours Pacific daylight time, an amateur built Thompson Long EZ TR airplane, N42DJ, nosed over during a forced landing after takeoff from the Yucca Valley, California, airport. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power during the initial climb. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot and was beginning a personal flight to Palm Springs, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft incurred substantial damage, and the certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The pilot reported that the aircraft was about 300 feet agl in the takeoff initial climb when the engine suddenly quit, restarted momentarily, then quit altogether. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but had insufficient altitude and he landed in soft desert terrain. The aircraft nosed over during the landing roll. An FAA airworthiness inspector examined the aircraft. He reported that the left fuel tank was selected, and that tank contained about 3 gallons of fuel. The right tank contained 5 gallons. No mechanical discrepancies were identified with the engine during the examination. The pilot is an airframe and powerplant mechanic and reported that his aircraft is equipped with both engine driven and electric fuel pumps which are plumbed in series. He stated that following recovery of the aircraft he performed functional tests on the fuel system. With the electric fuel pump turned on very little fuel would flow from the pump outlet line. When the electric pump was removed from the lines, the flow rate to the gascolator was measured at 12 gallons per hour. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42DJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42DJ-1996-09-11), registration cancelled 1996-09-11, S/N 1805L (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: THOMPSON LONG EZ TR - Registry model: [Thompson Daniel J LONG EZ TR](https://openairdocs.org/model/thompson-daniel-j-long-ez-tr) (registry code 05690W7) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1805L - Airframe hours: 637 - Engines: Lycoming O-320A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel J. Thompson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 30, 1996, 29 hours before - Departed: L22 - Destination: PSP, PALM SPRINGS, CA - Airport: L22, Yucca Valley, runway 24, 4,363 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 877 total, 637 in this make and model, 801 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 5 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 99 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19960727020129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960727020129A), Jul 27, 1996: Amtr LONG EZ, Yucca Valley, CA, Substantial damage. Lost power on climbout. Nosed over landing. Apparently turned on aux pump that restricted fuel flow caused problem. 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.