ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 179063
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Thursday 27 August 2015 |
| Time: | 17:05 |
| Type: |  Dova DV-1 Skylark |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N919E |
| MSN: | 06/15 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2007 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 330 hours |
| Engine model: | Rotax 912ULS |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Near San Carlos Airport (KSQL), San Carlos, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | San Carlos, CA (SQL) |
| Novato, CA (DVO) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The sport pilot had flown the special light-sport airplane to the airport earlier in the day and refueled. During his first departure attempt, the engine began to operate roughly, and he aborted the takeoff. After another departure attempt with the same results, he aborted the takeoff and taxied the airplane to a mechanic, who suggested that the airplane was experiencing vapor lock in the fuel system and that he let the engine cool down. The pilot waited and then performed an engine run-up, which appeared normal. He reattempted the departure, but the engine experienced a partial loss of power as the airplane began to climb through 50 to 75 ft. The pilot pitched the airplane down into a nose-low configuration and crashed into a field.
Postaccident engine examination did not revealed any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the fuel system revealed that the airplane was not equipped with a mandatory fuel return line, although specified in the engine manufacturer’s installation instructions. Manufacturer guidance indicated that the return line prevents malfunctions caused by the formation of vapor lock.
A combination electronic flight instrument system and engine monitoring system was installed in the airplane, and the data was downloaded from the unit after the examination. The data showed that during the presumed accident takeoff, the fuel level in one tank was between 0 and .05 gallons and the other was at 10.4 gallons and decreasing. During this time, the fuel flow fluctuated between 1 and 7.1 pounds per square inch, which was consistent with the system containing air bubbles and, with the fuel system not being equipped with any way to vent that air, indicative that a vapor lock scenario was imminent. It is likely that the absence of the fuel return line resulted in the engine losing power due to vapor lock.
Probable Cause: A partial loss of engine power due to fuel vapor lock. Contributing to the accident was the absence of a fuel return line.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
Location
Images:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 28-Aug-2015 02:10 | Geno | Added |
| 28-Aug-2015 02:21 | Geno | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Source, Narrative] |
| 15-Sep-2015 06:20 | Anon. | Updated [Nature, Destination airport, Damage, Photo, ] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:30 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 22-Mar-2019 19:07 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation