# NTSB WPR10LA154: Sutton Avid Hauler, N22EJ, Rigby, ID, March 7, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 7, 2010, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Rigby, ID - Coordinates: 43.642501, -111.929168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6425&lon=-111.9292&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 12, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75459 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75459/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75459 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA154 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power during takeoff for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Terrain: snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [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: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that immediately after takeoff, at approximately 300 feet above ground level, the engine of the experimental amateur-built airplane lost power. During the forced landing, the airplane's tundra tires broke through the snow-covered surface crust and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The fuselage and empennage sustained structural damage. The pilot stated that the engine manufacturer’s manual recommended using an electrical fuel pump, which was not installed on the accident airplane. The pilot stated that even though the airplane was a high-wing design, the high angle of attack during takeoff likely prevented the gravity feed system from delivering fuel fast enough to maintain engine power. During the postaccident engine inspection, no abnormalities were found which would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On March 7, 2010, approximately 1300 mountain standard time, a Sutton Avid Hauler experimental amateur-built airplane, N22EJ, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Rigby, Idaho. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. A flight plan had not been filed. The pilot said that immediately after takeoff from the Rigby-Jefferson County Airport, at approximately 300 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. He performed a forced landing to a snow covered field. During the landing roll, as the airplane slowed, the tundra tires broke through the surface crust sinking deeper into the snow. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The fuselage was wrinkled and the empennage was bent upwards. The pilot said the Rotax engine manual recommended using an electrical fuel pump, however, this airplane did not have one installed. The pilot stated that even though the airplane was a high wing design, the high angle of attack during takeoff likely prevented the gravity feed system from delivering fuel fast enough to maintain engine power. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the engine and found no abnormalities, which would have precluded its normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N22EJ (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: SUTTON AVID HAULER - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 456 - Airframe hours: 160 - Engines: Rotax 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Scott D. Fisher - Registered owner: Scott D. Fisher - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 5, 2010 - Departed: U56, Rigby, ID - Destination: U56, Rigby, ID - Airport: U56, Rigby-Jefferson Co Arpt, runway 01, 3,500 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 3, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 260 total, 9 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: RXE, 23 nm away ## 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 20100307030139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100307030139A), Mar 7, 2010: Sutton Jame AVID HAULER, Rigby, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot performed normal preflight and run-up. Did not notice any irregularities. Shortly after take off at about 300 feet AGL the engine lost power. The engine… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 1, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75459. 510 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 471 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339283&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Statement (item 2, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339284&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Statement-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.