# NTSB SEA93LA175: Ekins Protech PT2C Prostar, N123EK, Nephi, UT, August 12, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 12, 1993, 11:25 local (17:25 UTC) - Place: Nephi, UT - Coordinates: 39.679973, -111.829177 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6800&lon=-111.8292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41748 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA175 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41748/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA175 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE WET LANDING SURFACE AND TERRAIN CONDITION - DITCH. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED FOLLOWING A TOUCH AND GO LANDING. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING, REPORTING POOR BRAKING ON THE WET TERRAIN. THE MAIN LANDING GEAR SEPARATED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER WHEN IT ROLLED THROUGH A CONCRETE DRAINAGE CULVERT. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION BY AN FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED FUEL CONTAMINATION. ## Factual narrative On August 12, 1993, at approximately 1125 hours mountain daylight time (MDT), an Ekins & Larsen Protech PT2C Prostar, N123EK, registered to and operated by the owners, and being flown by John D. Brown, a commercially certificated pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing and subsequent collision with a fence following a total loss of power immediately after takeoff from runway 16 at the Nephi Municipal Airport, Nephi, Utah. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was a personal early stage test flight, was to have been operated in accordance with the requirements set forth in 14CFR91, and originated from the Nephi Airport at approximately 1005 hours with approximately 30 gallons of 100 low lead fuel. The pilot reported that at approximately 300 feet above ground, following a touch and go landing, the engine abruptly stopped operating. The pilot executed a 90 degree right turn to execute a forced landing onto plowed farmland. The pilot reported that "the field had recently been irrigated and the clay soil was extremely slippery" and that "braking was very poor." During the landing roll the aircraft impacted a wood fence and associated log posts, nosing over when the main landing gear separated as it rolled through a concrete drainage culvert. FAA Inspector Douglas Hanson examined the aircraft subsequent to the accident and reported "extensive fuel contamination in the fuel tank, fuel lines and filters." Additionally, he reported "plastic shavings from the plastic fuel tank in the fuel" and "water and other contaminants in the fuel" (refer to attached FAA Accident Investigation Record). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N123EK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N123EK-1994-03-09), registration cancelled 1994-03-09, S/N PT1213 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EKINS PROTECH PT2C PROSTAR (PROTECH PT) - Registry model: [Elkins Robert M PROTECH PT2C PROSTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/elkins-robert-m-protech-pt2c-prostar) (registry code 05618LT) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: PT1213 - Airframe hours: 7 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2G 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ekins & Larsen - Registered owner: Ekins & Larsen - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, June 25, 1993, 7 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 22,605 total, 5 in this make and model, 22,476 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PVU, 30 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 19930812029169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930812029169A), Aug 12, 1993: Amtr PT2, Nephi, UT, Substantial damage. Engine quit on climbout struck various items until nose over in ditch. Extensive fuel contamination in fuel system. 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.