- Date
- August 3, 1996, 10:40 local (14:40 UTC)
- Place
- Toa Baja, PR
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N113JMHernandez Challenger Special II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 31, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960803020649A
- Case key
- 38065
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
water contamination in the fuel system, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. Factors relating to the accident were: the lack of a quick draining feature in the fuel system, the pilot's failure (or inability) to detect water contamination in the fuel system during preflight inspection, and high obstruction(s) in the emergency landing area.
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 stated that before takeoff, he performed a preflight inspection of the home built airplane and made an engine run-up, but no discrepancies were noted. After takeoff, about 200 feet above ground level, the engine rpm dropped (uncommanded) from 6,300 to 2,000, and the pilot was unable to restore power. He initiated an emergency descent for a forced landing. As the pilot was maneuvering to avoid an obstruction, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. An investigation revealed that the airplane's fuel tank had no provision for quick draining of fuel during a preflight inspection to check for contaminants. A sample of fuel was taken by disconnecting the fuel line to the carburetor, and water contamination was found. Also, water was found in the carburetor.
Factual narrative
On August 3, 1996, about 1040 Atlantic standard time, a privately owned homebuilt Challenger II Special, N113JM, crashed during an attempted forced landing after takeoff from a private grass strip near Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that he performed a preflight of the airplane before takeoff and observed no water in the fuel system. He also performed an engine run-up before takeoff with no discrepancies noted. After takeoff about 200 feet above ground level, the engine rpm dropped uncommanded from 6,300 to 2,000 and he was unable to maintain altitude. He initiated a descent for a forced landing and with obstructions ahead, he maneuvered to avoid the obstructions. The airplane then stalled and impacted the ground. His injuries consisted only of a fractured T12 vertebra.
Examination of the airplane by an FAA Airworthiness Inspector revealed water contamination in the fuel filter located in the engine compartment area, in a fuel line to the carburetor, and in the carburetor bowls. Also discovered was a separation of the front seat throttle control swivel from the throttle control arm. The airplane fuel tank does not have a drain installed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N113JM
- Reported as
- Hernandez Challenger Special II
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- CH-1292 CW09
- Airframe hours
- 95
- Engine
- Rotax 503, 52 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Rafael R. Mena
- Registered owner
- Jose A. Martinez
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 15, 1995 · 30 hours before
- Airport
- Private Strip, runway 4, 900 × 40 ft, dirt
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
- 56
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 191 total · 80 in this make and model · 90 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SJU
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.