# NTSB MIA99LA093: Scott A. George Jr. Fisher Celebrity, N1122V, Simpsonville, SC, March 1, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 1, 1999, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Simpsonville, SC - Coordinates: 34.690956, -82.290611 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6910&lon=-82.2906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45831 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45831/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA093 ## Probable cause The unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the total loss of engine power due to the failure of a plastic 90-degree fitting at the inlet fitting of the carburetor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fuel system,line fitting - failure,total (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - pole - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the flight departed with full fuel and after takeoff, he orbited the airport about 10-15 minutes at 1,100 feet agl, then proceeded on course at the same altitude. About 10-15 minutes later, he noted that the CHT increased but the oil pressure and temperature indications were normal. He verified the mixture control was in the full rich position and continued the flight, noting that the CHT continued to increase. He applied throttle to maintain altitude but the CHT increased and at that time, the engine rpm began to decrease. Unable to maintain altitude, he selected a site for a forced landing but was unable to land there due to a total loss of engine power. While descending for a forced landing on a off-ramp of a highway, the right wing collided with a light pole. The airplane then rolled inverted and impacted a fence. Examination of the engine by an FAA Airworthiness Inspector revealed that a plastic 90-degree fitting located at the inlet of the carburetor was broken. Additionally, all cylinder heads were found to be cracked between spark plug holes. Impact damage to the right aft cylinder head was noted. ## Factual narrative On March 1, 1999, about 1530 eastern standard time, a homebuilt George A. Scott Jr., Fisher Celebrity, N1122V, registered to R. Wayne Pearce and Cyrus D. Rogers, experienced a total loss of engine power and subsequent collision with a light pole while descending for a forced landing near Simpsonville, South Carolina. 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 airline transport-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 30 minutes earlier from Flight World Airport, Greer, South Carolina. The airplane was purchased on February 6, 1999, and the pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to position the airplane to the new owners. After takeoff with full fuel, he circled the departure airport at about 1,100 feet agl for about 10-15 minutes then proceeded on the flight. About 10-15 minutes later, while flying at 1,100 feet agl, he first noted that the cylinder head temperature (CHT) increased but the oil pressure and oil temperature were indicating normally. He verified that the mixture was in the full rich position, continued the flight, and noted that the CHT continued to increase. He applied throttle to maintain altitude but the CHT increased and at that time, the engine rpm began to decrease. Unable to maintain altitude, he selected a sight for the forced landing, but was unable to land there due to a total loss of engine power. While descending for a forced landing on an off ramp for a highway, the right wing collided with a light pole. The airplane then rolled inverted and collided with a highway security fence. Fuel leakage was noted postcrash. Examination of the accident site by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed that the airplane was inverted against the perimeter fence for the on-ramp to the highway. The right wing was damaged due to the contact with the light pole about 18 feet agl, and the left wing was damaged due to ground contact. The right main and tailwheel were separated; the left main was attached. The airplane was recovered and examination of the engine by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed that after the top cowling was removed, the fuel line at the inlet of the carburetor was not connected. A 90-degree fitting which was made of plastic and connected the fuel line to the carburetor inlet, was broken. The electric fuel pump was operationally checked and found to operate normally. Examination of each cylinder for compression was accomplished and all were normal except for the right aft cylinder which had no compression. All cylinder heads were removed and a hole was found at the 6 o'clock position of the cylinder which had no compression. The FAA inspector attributed the hole to impact damage. All cylinder heads were noted to be cracked between the spark plug holes. Examination of the valves, pistons, and connecting rods showed no signs of damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1122V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1122V-1999-11-22), registration cancelled 1999-11-22, S/N AV1050 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Scott A. George Jr. FISHER CELEBRITY (FISHER CEL) - Registry model: [Scott George A JR FISHER CELEBRITY](https://openairdocs.org/model/scott-george-a-jr-fisher-celebrity) (registry code 05626AZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: AV1050 - Airframe hours: 41 - Engines: Volkswagen 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: R. Wayne Pearce & Cyrus Rogers - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 11, 1998, 1 hours before - Departed: SC72, GREER, SC - Destination: SC86, EASLEY, SC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 7,000 total, 3 in this make and model, 6,800 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GMU, 7 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 19990301001879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990301001879A), Mar 1, 1999: Amtr FISHERCELITY, Simpsonville, SC, Substantial damage. Acft was on a test flight when it lost power, the pilot attempted to land the acft on a highway exit ramp, and the acft struck a telephone pole, other… 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.