# NTSB WPR09CA349: Evektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar, N827EV, Snohomish, WA, July 15, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 15, 2009, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Snohomish, WA - Coordinates: 47.907222, -122.103889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9072&lon=-122.1039&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Seattle FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74304 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA349 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74304/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74304 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA349 ## Probable cause A complete loss of engine power due to the failure of the airplane's engine-driven fuel pump. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel pump](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057314): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057314/cases.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057314/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0600012), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot had just taken off for a flight that was to remain in the traffic pattern when the airplane's engine began to lose power about 150 to 200 feet above ground level (AGL). Soon thereafter the engine lost all power, and the flight instructor took control of the airplane. Because there were trees and power lines in his flight path, the instructor found it necessary to make a descending turn of about 150 degrees in order to attempt a forced landing. Just as he was rolling out of the turn the airplane impacted the terrain with sufficient force to result in substantial damage to the fuselage and one wing. A post-accident inspection overseen by a Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Inspector determined that the engine-driven fuel pump had failed. During the inspection process the engine was supplied with an alternate source of fuel, and it ran without interruption. ## Factual narrative The student pilot had just taken off for a flight that was to remain in the traffic pattern when the airplane's engine began to lose power about 150 to 200 feet above ground level (AGL). Soon thereafter the engine lost all power, and the flight instructor took control of the airplane. Because there were trees and power lines in his flight path, the instructor found it necessary to make a descending turn of about 150 degrees in order to attempt a forced landing. Just as he was rolling out of the turn the airplane impacted the terrain with sufficient force to result in substantial damage to the fuselage and one wing. A post-accident inspection overseen by a Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Inspector determined that the engine-driven fuel pump had failed. During the inspection process the engine was supplied with an alternate source of fuel, and it ran without interruption. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N827EV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N827EV), registered now, S/N 2007 0827, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EVEKTOR-AEROTECHNIK AS SPORTSTAR - Registry model: [Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/evektor-aerotechnik-sportstar) (registry code 0600012) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2007 0827 - Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Snohomish Flying Service Inc - Registered owner: Snohomish Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Departed: S43, Snohomish, WA - Destination: S43, Snohomish, WA - Airport: S43, Harvey Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; seat: right; flight hours: 619 total, 19 in this make and model - Pilot; age 52; private; seat: left; flight hours: 1,100 total, 4 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20090715010419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090715010419A), Jul 15, 2009: Amtr SPORTSTAR, Snohomish, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed on runway 33 at approximately 2330Z and climbed to approximately 200' AGL (220' MSL) when it experienced a loss of power, followed by… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 28, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74304. 891 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 891 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316496&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.