# NTSB WPR10LA039: Sauer KR-2S, N811RJ, Glendale, AZ, October 30, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 30, 2009, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Glendale, AZ - Coordinates: 33.526943, -112.29528 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5269&lon=-112.2953&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminsitration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74987 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74987/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74987 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA039 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of a reduced fuel flow to the engine resulting from a misrouted fuel tank vent line, during initial climb. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Sauer Robert E KR2S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300/cases.md?model=056157C), [All aircraft, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300/cases.md) - [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Design (probable cause); cases with it: [Sauer Robert E KR2S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=056157C), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Sauer Robert E KR2S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=056157C), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Sauer Robert E KR2S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=056157C), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Sauer Robert E KR2S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056157C), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Sauer Robert E KR2S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056157C), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Sauer Robert E KR2S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056157C), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental homebuilt airplane reported that this was its inaugural flight. The pilot reported that immediately after takeoff, at approximately 300 feet above ground level, the airspeed began to decrease. He lowered the airplane's nose to maintain airspeed when he then noticed that the engine's rpm was also decreasing. He performed a forced landing straight ahead, and during the roll out, the airplane impacted a berm. Both wings were displaced aft and the bottom of the fuselage was broken. The owner/builder of the airplane reported that the airplane's fuel tank was located between the firewall and the instrument panel. The fuel tank's vent line passed through the firewall into the engine compartment and terminated near the bottom of the aircraft. This was the same location that the engine's cooling air flow exited the engine compartment. The builder believed that the exiting airflow may have created a negative pressure in the fuel tank, which would have reduced the fuel flow to the engine during flight. Two Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the experimental Corvair 164 CID engine with the pilot. No anomalies that would have prevented normal engine operation was found. ## Factual narrative On October 30, 2009, at 1130 mountain standard time, a Sauer KR-2S experimental homebuilt airplane, N811RJ, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Glendale, Arizona. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aircraft’s first flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. A flight plan had not been filed. The pilot said that immediately after takeoff, at approximately 300 feet above ground level, the airspeed began to decrease. He lowered the airplane’s nose to maintain airspeed. He then noticed that the engine’s rpm was decreasing. The pilot performed a forced landing straight ahead, and during the rollout, the airplane impacted a berm. Both wings were displaced aft and the bottom of the fuselage was broken. The owner/builder of the airplane reported that the airplane’s 20-gallon fuel tank was located between the firewall and the instrument panel. There were eight gallons of fuel in it at the time of the accident. The fuel system was gravity feed to the carburetor. The fuel tank’s vent line passed through the firewall into the engine compartment and terminated near the bottom of the aircraft. The owner/builder reported that the engine’s cooling air flow exited the engine compartment at the same location as the fuel tank’s vent line. He further reported that he believed the exiting airflow may have created a negative pressure in the tank, which reduced the fuel flow to the engine during flight. Two Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the experimental Corvair 164 CID engine with the builder. They found no anomalies that would have prevented normal engine operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N811RJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N811RJ), registered now, S/N 001, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SAUER KR-2S - Registry model: [Sauer Robert E KR2S](https://openairdocs.org/model/sauer-robert-e-kr2s) (registry code 056157C) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Airframe hours: 1 - Engines: Corvair 164 CID 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Sauer Robert E Trustee - Registered owner: Sauer Robert E Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 30, 2009, 0 hours before - Departed: GEU, Glendale, AZ - Destination: GEU, Glendale, AZ - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: GEU, Glendale Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 14, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 2,612 total, 2,534 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: GEU ## 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 20091030023179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091030023179A), Oct 30, 2009: Amtr KR2S, Glendale, AZ, Substantial damage. On October 30, 2009 at approximately 1100 MST, N811RJ, a experimental sauer KR2S, with [privacy data omitted] performing as the pilot in command, took off from… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 7, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74987. 660 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 442 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322252&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322253&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statements (item 3, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322254&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statements-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - R. Sauer (item 4, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322255&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20R.%20Sauer-Master.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.