# NTSB WPR22LA014: Avid Mark IV, N583DM, Payette, ID, October 13, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 13, 2021, 10:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Payette, ID - Coordinates: 44.079228, -116.93496 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0792&lon=-116.9350&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104121 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104121/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104121 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA014 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the lack of an outlet screen on the fuel system header tank. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inoperative (probable cause) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition - [Fuel system: fuel filter-strainer](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022821): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not installed/available ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot was conducting a local flight in an experimental airplane and during cruise flight about 1,000 ft above ground level, the engine began to intermittently lose power. He activated the fuel pump and shortly thereafter the engine shut down. The pilot maneuvered the airplane to land in a cultivated field. The airplane was substantially damaged when it nosed over during the landing roll. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the airplane’s header tank did not have an outlet screen installed and the fuel selector valve contained a large quantity of debris. It is likely the debris, from the fuel tank construction and/or repairs, entered the fuel selector valve from the header tank, resulting in fuel starvation to the engine and the subsequent loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On October 13, 2021, about 1020 Pacific daylight time, an Avid Mark IV experimental airplane, N583DM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Payette, Idaho. The non-certificated pilot was not injured. The experimental amateur-built airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The non-certificated pilot reported that while in level flight, about 1,000 ft above ground level, the engine began to intermittently lose power. He activated the fuel pump and shortly thereafter the engine shut down. The pilot then turned the airplane 180-degrees to the north to land in a cultivated field. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed bent tubular structure near the landing gear attachment, forward cabin areas and vertical stabilizer. The airplane’s fuel system header tank did not have an outlet screen and the fuel selector valve contained a large quantity of debris from the fiberglass fuel tanks. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the wreckage, the contamination most likely resulted from the construction and previous repairs of the fuel and header fuel tanks. Maintenance logbooks were not found during the investigation. The pilot logbook revealed a total of 4 hours of flight time. The pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector that he had mostly flown ultralight airplanes in the past and those flights were not entered in his logbook. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event) - [Maneuvering: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N583DM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N583DM), registered now, S/N 1582D (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVID MARK IV - Registry model: [Miller Douglas A AVID MK IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/miller-douglas-a-avid-mk-iv) (registry code 05608ZW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1582D - Airframe hours: 472 - Engines: Subaru EA81 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Nelson Christopher H - Registered owner: Nelson Christopher H - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 13, 2021 - Departed: KNON, Ontario, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KONO, 5 nm away - METAR: KONO 131553Z AUTO 16003KT 10SM FEW050 BKN070 OVC080 06/M04 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP182 T00611044 ## 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 20211013017069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211013017069A), Oct 13, 2021: Miller Douglas A AVID MK IV, Parma, ID, Substantial damage. On October 13, 2021 at approximately 1025 am the aircraft was flying south @ 1000 ft AGL. The engine quit, forcing an emergency landing in a corn field. During… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104121. 10.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12863081&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot logbook excerpts (courtesy of the FAA) (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15549672&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Email-faa on pilot hours (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15549367&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Re_Email%20from%20FAA%20on%20pilot%20hours_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Email-faa examination notes (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15549501&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Email-FAA%20Inspection%20notes%20and%20photos_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of memorandum-pilot statement (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15549928&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROM-Pilot-Rel.pdf - Photo array-faa (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 791 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12863196&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-FAA-Rel.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.