MIA05CA118

NTSB accident investigation · Herbert O. Kellerman 173 RG · Venice, FL · June 7, 2005

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 7, 2005, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC)
Place
Venice, FL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N27BKHerbert O. Kellerman 173 RG
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 13, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Tampa, Florida, FSDO
FAA report
20050607011299A
Case key
61639

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The owner/pilot mechanic's inadequate maintenance inspection resulting in a partial loss of engine power due to a loose fuel line.

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.

Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malfTakeoff - initial climb
Maintenance,inspection - inadequateOwner/pilot mechanicCause
Fuel system,line fitting - loose
Forced landingManeuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - fence

Analysis

The pilot stated he preformed a normal engine start, taxi, and engine run-up, with no discrepancies noted. He than checked his radios and taxied to the active runway, the take-off was normal with the airplane engine producing full power. He retracted the landing gear around 400 feet, and shut off the auxiliary fuel pump. Shortly thereafter the airplane engine started to lose power, he immediately turned the auxiliary fuel pump to the on position. The engine started to surge from idle to about 1800 rpm, and continued to surge for the remainder of the flight. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude, and the pilot made a 250-degree turn back to the airport, and landed on the grass overrun area of the approach end of runway 4, before impacting a fence and coming to a stop. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated that during his examination of the accident airplane, he found the "B" nut on the fuel line that supplies fuel to the fuel servo loose from it's fitting.

Factual narrative

On June 7, 2005, about 0930 eastern daylight time, an experimental/amateur-built Kellerman Velocity 173 RG airplane, N27BK, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, impacted with a fence during an emergency landing at Venice Municipal Airport, Venice, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot received no injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated he planed to fly to two airports and return back to the departure airport. He preformed a normal engine start, taxi, and engine run-up, with no discrepancies noted. He than checked his radios and taxied to the active runway, the take-off was normal with the airplane engine producing full power. He retracted the landing gear around 400 feet, and shut off the auxiliary fuel pump. Shortly thereafter the airplane engine started to lose power. He immediately turned the auxiliary fuel pump to the on position. The engine started to surge from idle to about 1800 rpm, and continued to surge for the remainder of the flight. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude, and the pilot made a 250-degree turn back to the airport, and landed on the grass overrun area of the approach end of runway 4, before impacting a fence and coming to a stop.

The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated that during his examination of the accident airplane, he found the "B" nut on the fuel line that supplies fuel to the fuel servo loose from it's fitting.

Aircraft

Registration
N27BK
Reported as
Herbert O. Kellerman 173 RG
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
DMO-242
Airframe hours
103
Engine
Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Herbert O. Kellerman
Registered owner
Herbert O Kellerman
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · October 1, 2004 · 10 hours before
Departed
VNC · Venice, FL
Destination
VNC · Venice, FL
Airport
VNC · Venice Muncicipal, runway 4, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

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
70
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
November 1, 2003
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,589 total · 105 in this make and model · 1,589 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
260° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 77 °F
Altimeter
29.95 inHg
Observed at
VNC

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.