# NTSB SEA02LA168: Nolley BD-5, N50TX, Corvallis, OR, August 31, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 2002, 09:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Corvallis, OR - Coordinates: 44.497222, -123.289718 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4972&lon=-123.2897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO, Portland (Hillsboro) - NTSB case key (mKey): 55606 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA168 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55606/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA168 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation resulting in a loss of engine power during the aircraft's initial climb. A disconnected fuel line was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - fuel system,line fitting - disconnected (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Hard landing, landing - Gear collapsed, landing ## Analysis During a telephone conversation with an investigator from the NTSB, the pilot reported that the airplane began to lose power shortly after takeoff from the Corvallis Airport. He reported that he was unable to restore engine power and elected to perform an off-airport landing to a nearby open field. He reported that the airplane touched down hard and the gear collapsed. He also reported that he was unable to recall any specific engine instrument readings or warning lights in the cockpit before, during or after the power failure. The initial onsite investigation was conducted by an inspector from the Portland, Oregon, Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) on the day of the accident. During the examination the inspector noted that the left main fuel supply line, at the quick connect coupler, was disconnected. No damage was noted to the fuel line or associated coupler. A test run of the accident aircraft's converted Solar gas turbine engine was conducted at Apex Gas Turbines, Silverdale, Washington. The test was conducted with the engine mounted on a test stand. The engine was successfully started and run at multiple power settings. No operating malfunctions or anomalies were noted during the test run. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 2002, approximately 0920 Pacific daylight time, an amateur-built experimental-category Nolley BD-5 airplane, N50TX, was substantially damaged in a forced landing in a field approximately 1 1/2 miles southeast of the Corvallis Municipal Airport, Corvallis, Oregon, following a reported partial loss of engine power during climb after takeoff. The private pilot, who owned and had built the single-seat aircraft, received serious injuries in the forced landing. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at Corvallis at 0935. No flight plan had been filed for the local 14 CFR 91 personal flight, which departed Corvallis Municipal about 0900. According to the FAA aircraft registry, the accident airplane received initial experimental-category airworthiness certification on June 19, 1998. The aircraft was equipped with a 95-shaft horsepower Quantum turboprop engine, a conversion based on components of the Solar T-62 power system. A witness to the accident, who reported that he was a co-builder of the accident airplane and stated he witnessed the accident from a chase aircraft, reported that the accident flight was part of the accident aircraft's initial required 40-hour flight test period, with 16.8 hours on the aircraft's Hobbs meter at the time of the accident. The witness reported that the objective of the accident flight was to determine the aircraft's stall characteristics pursuant to the 40-hour flight test period. The witness reported that after takeoff, the pilot reported to him on the radio that he was not able to climb higher than traffic pattern altitude (approximately 1,000 feet above ground level). The witness stated that the aircraft completed about two circuits around the airport when it suddenly pitched over and subsequently impacted the ground in a level attitude, coming to a stop in 100 to 125 feet and pivoting about 90 degrees to the left. During a telephone conversation with an investigator from the NTSB, the pilot reported that the airplane began to lose power shortly after takeoff from the Corvallis Airport. He reported that he was unable to restore engine power and elected to perform an off-airport landing to a nearby open field. He reported that the airplane touched down hard and the gear collapsed. He also reported that he was unable to recall any specific engine instrument readings or warning lights in the cockpit before, during or after the power failure. The initial onsite investigation was conducted by an inspector from the Portland, Oregon, Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) on the day of the accident. During the examination the inspector noted that the left main fuel supply line, at the quick connect coupler, was disconnected. No damage was noted to the fuel line or associated coupler. On November 25, 2002, a test run of the accident aircraft's converted Solar gas turbine engine was conducted at Apex Gas Turbines, Silverdale, Washington. The test was conducted with the engine mounted on a test stand. The engine was successfully started and run at multiple power settings. No operating malfunctions or anomalies were noted during the test run. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50TX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50TX-2002-11-27), registration cancelled 2002-11-27, S/N 629, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Nolley BD-5 - Registry model: [Nolley Mell B BD-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/nolley-mell-b-bd-5) (registry code 056027V) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Airframe hours: 18.6 - Engines: Quantum T-62 95 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mell B. Nolley - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: CVO, Corvallis, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 8, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 2,962 total, 1 in this make and model, 262 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: CVO, 1 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 20020831023269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020831023269A), Aug 31, 2002: Amtr BD5, Corvallis, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot lost power in traffic pattern, could not make runway, unable to arrest descent rate, made hard landing with wings level, struck in open plowed… ## Other investigations on N50TX (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA98FA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98FA109), Jun 21, 1998: Nolley BD-5T (N50TX), Corvallis, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The introduction of a fuel containing an ethanol additive into fuel tanks sloshed/sealed with a compound incompatible with alcohols, resulting in debonding of the compound from the fuel tank walls,… 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.