# NTSB SEA94LA176: Bambrick Corben ACE, Arlington, WA, July 11, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 10, 1994, 18:35 local (Jul 11, 1994, 01:35 UTC)
- Place: Arlington, WA
- Coordinates: 48.180507, -121.670471 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1805&lon=-121.6705&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41972
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA176
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41972/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA176

## Probable cause

FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE BUILDERS' INADEQUATE DESIGN OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. FACTORS INCLUDE HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES DURING THE CLIMB, AND A FENCE IN THE FIELD WHERE THE FORCED LANDING TOOK PLACE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb - to cruise
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate design, manufacturer (cause)
  - weather condition - temperature extremes (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER A TAXI, RUN-UP, AND TAKEOFF IN TEMPERATURES OF 95 PLUS DEGREES, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DURING AN EIGHT TO TEN MINUTE CLIMB TO CRUISE ALTITUDE. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL LINE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAD BEEN ROUTED IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWED IT TO ABSORB EXCESSIVE HEAT, RESULTING IN VAPORIZATION OF FUEL IN THE LINE.

## Factual narrative

On July 10, 1994, about 1835 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Canadian registered experimental Bambrick Corben Ace, CFKEZ, collided with a fence during a forced landing near Arlington, Washington. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which departed Arlington Municipal Airport, Arlington, Washington, about 10 minutes before the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. The aircraft was on a VFR flight plan en route to Abbotsford, British Columbia, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the pilot, after starting the engine, he taxied his aircraft to the active runway in 95 plus degree heat. He then sat at the end of the runway for at least five minutes waiting for other aircraft to depart from the fly-in he was attending. After his takeoff, the pilot climbed at full power for about eight to ten minutes. While still climbing, the aircraft experienced a loss of power four separate times. The first three times the engine restarted on its own, but after the fourth loss of power, the engine didn't restart.

After the loss of power, the pilot attempted a forced landing in a nearby field. His touchdown was successful, but the field was too small to stop the aircraft prior to impacting a perimeter fence.

According to both the owner/builder and the FAA inspector who responded to the accident, the fuel line in the engine compartment was routed near the exhaust stack, allowing it to absorb excessive heat. They both felt that absorption of this heat, combined with the high ambient air temperature, resulted in vaporization of fuel in the line. The pilot said that he planned to reroute the line to minimize this problem in the future.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CFKEZ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BAMBRICK CORBEN ACE
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 0988
- Airframe hours: 90
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A 65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bambrick, Robert G.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 1994, 86 hours before
- Destination: YXX, ABBOTSFORD
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 290 total, 290 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 95 °F

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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