# NTSB SEA07LA066: Scherer Europa, N81EU, Upland, CA, February 25, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 24, 2007, 17:07 local (Feb 25, 2007, 01:07 UTC) - Place: Upland, CA - Coordinates: 34.111667, -117.6875 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1117&lon=-117.6875&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65347 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65347/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA066 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate condition inspection and subsequent loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of a blocked fuel filter. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - starvation/exhaustion (cause) - fuel system,line - deteriorated (cause) - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel system,filter - blocked(partial) (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis The pilot said that he was departing on runway 24, and at approximately 80 feet above the runway, the engine lost power. He established a glide for a forced landing. The aircraft impacted a berm on the left side of the west end of the runway, bounced, and came to rest about 150 feet from the runway end. The engine compartment was broken from the fuselage at the firewall, and remained attached to the fuselage by control cables and wires. The pilot said that he had just finished a conditional inspection. He said that he put 5 gallons of fuel in the airplane prior to flight; it holds a maximum of approximately 18 gallons. He said that after the accident he found the fuel line, which led to the fuel filter, to be deteriorated. The pilot said that a small piece of rubber from the fuel line was blocking the filter's inlet. He believes that this was what led to the fuel starvation of the engine. ## Factual narrative On February 24, 2007, at 1707 Pacific standard time, a Scherer Europa experimental homebuilt airplane, N81EU, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during takeoff from Cable Airport (CCB), Upland, California. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The pilot/owner/builder was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local, personal flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. A flight plan had not been filed. The pilot said that he was departing on runway 24, and at approximately 80 feet above the runway, the engine lost power. He established a glide for a forced landing. The aircraft impacted a berm on the left side of the west end of the runway, bounced, and came to rest about 150 feet from the runway end. The engine compartment was broken from the fuselage at the firewall, and remained attached to the fuselage by control cables and wires. The pilot said that he had just finished a conditional inspection. He said that he put 5 gallons of fuel in the airplane prior to flight; it holds a maximum of approximately 18 gallons. He said that after the accident he found the fuel line, which led to the fuel filter, to be deteriorated. The pilot said that a small piece of rubber from the fuel line was blocking the filter's inlet. He believes that this was what led to the fuel starvation of the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N81EU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81EU-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N UK81, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Scherer Europa - Registry model: [Scherer Thomas EUROPA](https://openairdocs.org/model/scherer-thomas-europa) (registry code 056047Y) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: UK81 - Airframe hours: 948 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas Scherer - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 1, 2007 - Departed: CCB, Upland, CA - Destination: CCB - Airport: CCB, Cable Airport, runway 24, 3,864 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 1,700 total, 948 in this make and model, 1,700 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: ONT, 5 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 20070225003939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070225003939A), Feb 25, 2007: Amtr EUROPA*, Upland, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft lost power on takeoff and made forced landing in field off end of runway. 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.