# NTSB SEA98LA181: Kelly Kolb Mark III, N62691, Cashmere, WA, September 17, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 17, 1998, 11:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: Cashmere, WA - Coordinates: 47.54969, -120.480445 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5497&lon=-120.4804&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43999 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA181 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43999/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA181 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation caused by the partial blockage of the fuel pump chambers as a result of the misalignment of the fuel pump front cover by the pilot/builder. Factors include trees in the area in which the pilot attempted the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - fuel system,pump - blocked(partial) (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - maintenance,alignment - improper, owner/builder (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis While approximately 1,800 feet above the ground (AGL), during a full-power climb, the aircraft's engine lost power and the propeller stopped turning. The pilot, who was over a town at the time of the power loss, attempted a forced landing in an open field, but the airplane struck a tree during the flare/touchdown. It was later discovered that the front cover on the engine-driven fuel pump was out of alignment by 60 degrees, resulting in a restriction to fuel flow through the pump. The pilot, who was not aware of the alignment marks on the surface of the pump, said that he had disassembled and reassembled the pump while trying to fit it in the aircraft during the construction process. ## Factual narrative On September 17, 1998, approximately 1120 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Kelly Kolb Mark III, N62691, collided with a tree during an attempted forced landing in an open field in a residential area of Cashmere, Washington. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, received serious injuries, and the aircraft, which was owned by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 local personal pleasure flight had departed Cashmere-Dryden Airport about three minutes prior to the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, after completing a touch-and-go landing at the Cashmere-Dryden Airport, he was in a full-power climb when the engine suddenly quit and the propeller stopped rotating as he passed through 1,800 feet above ground level (AGL). He then attempted to land in an open field in a residential area, but collided with a tree as he began the landing flare. During the investigation it was discovered that there was fuel in the lines between the fuel tank and engine-driven fuel pump, but the float bowls in both carburetors were almost empty. Inspection of the fuel pump revealed that its front cover was misaligned by 60 degrees, partially restricting the flow of fuel through the pump to the carburetors. In an interview with an FAA inspector who viewed the aircraft after the accident, the pilot said that he had disassembled and reassembled the fuel pump while attempting to fit it to the aircraft during the construction process. He said that he did not remember being aware of the alignment index marks on the surface of the pump. According to the FAA inspector who inspected the aircraft after the accident, after the post-accident fuel pump inspection was completed, the pump was reassembled with the front cover properly aligned. Then a sparkplug was removed from each cylinder, and the propeller was turned rapidly by hand. During this test, the fuel pump produced an unrestricted flow of fuel. Although the aircraft had experienced no engine problems during approximately 40 hours of flight since construction, the spark plug coloration indicated the engine had been running very lean. It was also noted that the starvation/failure occurred during a full-power climb. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62691](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62691), registered now, S/N M3-243 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KELLY KOLB MARK III (KOLB MARK) - Registry model: [Kelly Michael KOLB MARK III](https://openairdocs.org/model/kelly-michael-kolb-mark-iii) (registry code 05602Y2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: M3-243 - Airframe hours: 40 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael V. Kelly - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 1998, 1 hours before - Departed: 8S2, CASHMERE, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 124 total, 42 in this make and model, 124 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 19980917024939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980917024939A), Sep 17, 1998: Amtr MARKIII, Cashmere, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft lost power after takeoff from Cashmere - Dryden airport (S82). Pilot stated that he attempted to return to Cashmere airport but lost control of… 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.