# NTSB WPR22LA046: Vans RV10, N54CT, Hurricane, UT, November 22, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 22, 2021, 11:40 local (18:40 UTC) - Place: Hurricane, UT · Near PVT airport - Coordinates: 37.101928, -113.31383 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1019&lon=-113.3138&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 104301 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104301/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104301 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA046 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to a loose fuel line at the fuel servo outlet port. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Brubaker Calvin VANS RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=05639DN), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Misc hardware: hoses and tubes](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071410): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Brubaker Calvin VANS RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071410/cases.md?model=05639DN), [All aircraft, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071410/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Brubaker Calvin VANS RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05639DN), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Brubaker Calvin VANS RV-10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05639DN), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after takeoff, on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, he reduced power and decreased his rate of climb due to rising engine operating temperatures. Shortly after, the engine experienced a complete loss of power. Despite attempts to troubleshoot, the pilot was unable to restore engine power and conducted a 360° turn to lose altitude prior to landing. However, after turning onto final approach for the runway, he realized he did not have enough altitude to make it to the runway and initiated a forced landing to an open field. The airplane landed hard and impacted terrain before it came to rest in a nose-low attitude, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. Postaccident examination of the recovered airframe and engine revealed that the fuel line from the fuel servo outlet port to the fuel flow transducer inlet port was loose at the fuel servo fitting. The loose fuel line would not allow for enough fuel pressure to reach the fuel flow divider and fuel injection nozzles, thus resulting in a loss of engine power. Recorded engine data revealed that fuel flow had decreased, while fuel pressure had remained steady, which would be consistent with a loose fuel line. The airplane’s last condition inspection was performed about 19 flight hours before the accident. ## Factual narrative On November 22, 2021, about 1140 mountain standard time, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV-10 airplane, N54CT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near the Grassy Meadows/Sky Ranch Airport, Hurricane, Utah. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that prior to takeoff, he conducted an uneventful engine runup with the fuel selector set to the left fuel tank. Following completion of the engine runup, he switched to the right fuel tank and back taxied on runway 17 for takeoff. The pilot departed runway 17 with the intention of conducting a downwind departure to the north. While on the downwind leg, he reduced power and decreased his rate of climb due to rising engine operating temperatures. Shortly after, the engine had a complete loss of engine power. He advanced the propeller control to full rpm, switched the fuel selector valve to the left fuel tank, and turned on the fuel boost pump. Unable to restore engine power, he conducted a 360° turn to lose altitude prior to landing. However, after turning onto final approach for runway 17, he realized he did not have enough altitude to make it to the runway and initiated a forced landing to an open field. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard and impacted terrain before it came to rest in a nose low attitude. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that the fuselage and left wing were substantially damaged. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination. Downloaded data from the airplane’s avionics recorded various engine parameters. The data showed that 1140:27-unit time, power was advanced for takeoff, with a fuel flow increasing to 22 gallons per hour (gph). About 51 seconds later, fuel flow started to decrease, however, fuel pressure remained around 26 psi. The data showed that when fuel flow decayed below 9.7 gph, engine rpm began to decrease from about 2,500 rpm. Examination of the recovered airframe and engine revealed that the fuel line from the fuel servo outlet port to the fuel flow transducer inlet port was loose at the fuel servo fitting. An external fuel source was attached to the left-wing fuel inlet line, and the No. 1 cylinder fuel injector line was removed from the fuel injector for testing. When power was applied to the airframe and the airframe boost pump was turned on with the throttle and mixture levers in the full forward position, fuel was observed expelling from the loose fuel line fitting, and no fuel was observed flowing from the fuel injector line. Additionally, damage sustained to the firewall appeared to restrict fuel flow from left- and right-wing fuel inlet lines. An external electric fuel boost pump was attached inline from an external fuel source to the fuel inlet line of the engine-driven fuel pump, and the loose fuel fitting at the fuel servo was tightened about 3.5 turns. The fuelboost pump was turned on with the throttle and mixture levers in the full forward position. Fuel was observed expelling from the cylinder no. 1 fuel injector line. Then the fuel outlet line at the fuel servo was loosened about 3.5 turns, fuel began to leak from the fitting, with no fuel expelling from the no. 1 fuel injector line. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54CT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N54CT), registered now, S/N 40212, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV10 - Registry model: [Brubaker Calvin VANS RV-10](https://openairdocs.org/model/brubaker-calvin-vans-rv-10) (registry code 05639DN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41585, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 40212 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 82.3 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-EXP 271 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 1, 2021, 19 hours before - Destination: BTF, Bountifuil, UT - Airport: UT47, Grassy Meadows/Sky Ranch Landowners Assn, runway 17, 4,400 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 22, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,308 total, 110 in this make and model, 3,308 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.35 inHg - Observed at: KSGU, 14 nm away - METAR: KSGU 221856Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 11/M07 A3035 RMK AO2 SLP277 T01061067 ## 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 20211122019899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211122019899A), Nov 22, 2021: Brubaker Calvin VANS RV-10, Hurricane, UT, Substantial damage. During departure of the airport traffic pattern and still on an extended downwind. The pilot positioned the propeller control to a climb-out RPM and the engine… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104301. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13806185&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - pilot (maintenance) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13805363&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20pilot-Rel.pdf - Garmin display data (raw file) (item 3, CSV, 362 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13806252&FileExtension=csv&FileName=log_20211122_113025_UT47-Rel.csv - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 173 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13805969&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=wreckage%20release%20signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 6 photos, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13806537&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Airframe and engine examination summary report (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 1 photo, 427 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13850787&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - pilot (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13850398&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20pilot%201-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.