# NTSB WPR22LA133: Adams Dennis Allen Varieze, N88KL, Mojave, CA, March 26, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 26, 2022, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Mojave, CA · Open Field - Coordinates: 35.053475, -118.18486 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0535&lon=-118.1849&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 104845 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104845/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104845 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA133 ## Probable cause The failure of the carburetor intake Sceet tubing, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant: air intake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057160): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Adams Dennis Allen VARIEZE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057160/cases.md?model=056094N), [All aircraft, 50 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057160/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: [Adams Dennis Allen VARIEZE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056094N), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after takeoff and about 500 ft above ground level, the engine lost total power and he chose to land on the open desert terrain. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with vegetation and the landing gear separated, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage undercarriage. Examination of the airplane revealed that the air intake duct between the air filter box and the carburetor was damaged during the accident sequence and partially separated from the airplane. The ducting was Sceet tubing that comprised wire coil encased between an inner and outer silicone-impregnated layer. The Sceet tubing was disassembled and exhibited debonding of the inner and outer layers. Oil and debris that was not consistent with the accident sequence were present in the debonded area. It is likely that the loss of engine power was due to the separation of the Sceet tubing inner layer, which then restricted airflow to the carburetor. ## Factual narrative On March 26, 2022, about 1200 Pacific daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built VariEze, N88KL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mojave, California. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the pilot-rated passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he departed from runway 26, and turned left to the south. About 500 ft above ground level (agl), the engine lost total power. As the pilot continued the left turn back toward the airport, he realized that the airplane would not reach the runway and he chose to land in open desert terrain. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with vegetation and the landing gear separated, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage undercarriage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the air intake duct between the air filter box and the carburetor was damaged during the accident sequence and partially separated from the airplane. The ducting was about 2 inches in diameter and consistent with Sceet tubing with both an inner and outer silicone-impregnated cloth with a wire coil between the layers. The Sceet tubing was disassembled and exhibited debonding of the inner and outer layer. Oil and debris that was not consistent with the accident sequence was present between the debonded area. The separation of the inner layer was consistent with unsupported areas during a negative pressure flow during engine operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88KL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88KL), registered now, S/N 1644, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ADAMS DENNIS ALLEN VARIEZE - Registry model: [Adams Dennis Allen VARIEZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/adams-dennis-allen-varieze) (registry code 056094N) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1644 - Year built: 1983 - Airframe hours: 1192 - Engines: Continental Motors O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 20, 2022 - Airport: MHV, Mojave Air and Space Port - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 16, 2020; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,478 total, 120 in this make and model, 1,334 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 38; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: center; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 16 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KMHV, 2 nm away - METAR: KMHV 261900Z AUTO 20016KT 10SM CLR 26/M14 A2995 RMK A01 ## 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 20220326004329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220326004329A), Mar 26, 2022: Adams Dennis Allen VARIEZE, Mojave, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed from Mojave airport runway 26. During climb out at approximately 500 feet AGL aircraft had a complete power loss of engine. Pilot was able to… ## 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=104845. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 698 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14150142&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA wreckage exam (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14167363&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N88KL%20FAA%20Exam_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Summary of findings (A&P) (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 615 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14167774&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=SUMMARY%20OF%20FINDINGS%20(A%26P)-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14173208&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Evidence control form (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14173101&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA133%20Evidence%20Control%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14169499&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array_Redacted-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.