# NTSB SEA94LA044: Sommerauer Glasair I RG, Ogden, UT, December 31, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 31, 1993, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Ogden, UT
- Coordinates: 41.180198, -111.909523 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1802&lon=-111.9095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41864
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA044
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41864/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA044

## Probable cause

A LOOSE FUEL LINE FITTING, AND FUEL STARVATION. FACTORS INCLUDE AN INTENTIONAL WHEELS UP FORCED LANDING, AND SOFT ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel system,line fitting - loose (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - wheels up landing - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER EXPERIENCING A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED GEAR-UP LANDING ON SOFT ROUGH TERRAIN. AFTER  TOUCHDOWN THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. AN FAA INSPECTOR LATER FOUND THAT A FUEL LINE-TO-ENGINE FITTING NUT, WHICH HAD BEEN ON THE AIRCRAFT FOR OVER 85 HOURS, HAD COME LOOSE, RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION.

## Factual narrative

On December 31, 1993, approximately 1400 mountain standard time (MST), a Swiss registered Glasair I RG experimental aircraft, HBYDJ, impacted the terrain during a forced landing near Ogden, Utah. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The pilot, who was on a local pleasure flight, departed Ogden-Hinckley Municipal Airport about 20 minutes earlier. The pilot had not filed a flight plan, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the pilot, the engine lost power, and he attempted a forced landing on rough soft terrain. During the emergency descent, he made the decision to land with the gear up in an attempt to minimize the damage to the aircraft.

An FAA inspector who responded to the accident found that a stainless steel nut on the fuel line-to-engine fitting had come loose, resulting in an interruption in the fuel flow to the engine. According to the pilot/manufacturer, the nut that came loose had been used to hold the fuel line to the engine for over 85 hours of powerplant operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: HBYDJ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SOMMERAUER GLASAIR I RG (GLASAIR I)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 709
- Airframe hours: 398
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-A1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sommerauer, Jurg
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: AAIP, July 16, 1993, 46 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 878 total, 430 in this make and model, 742 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

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.

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