Accident Quicksilver MXL II Sport UNREG,
ASN logo
ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 290856
 
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:Saturday 15 August 2015
Time:18:20 LT
Type:Quicksilver MXL II Sport
Owner/operator:
Registration: UNREG
MSN: None
Engine model:Rotax 582
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Pittsboro, North Carolina -   United States of America
Phase: Standing
Nature:Private
Departure airport:Pittsboro, NC (1NC1)
Destination airport:Pittsboro, NC (1NC1)
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
According to the pilot, after takeoff during the climb at approximately 150 feet above ground level, the engine in the unregistered, two seat airplane lost power and the airplane's handling became "mushy." His passenger began to panic, and he found it hard to concentrate and figure out what was happening. The airplane began to lose altitude and he began maneuvering to find a field he could land in. He then noticed that there was a power line in front of him. He was able to clear the power line, but the airplane struck the top of a tree and was substantially damaged. The pilot advised that while maneuvering to land, that when he turned the airplane slightly to the right, the airplane "wanted to fly," and if lowered the nose of the airplane to maintain airspeed, the power seemed to increase slightly. Examination of the wreckage revealed that even though the fuel tank was 1/2 full, the fuel shutoff valve was in the "OFF" (closed) position. The horizontally mounted fuel filter which was located downstream of the closed shutoff valve was only 1/3 full and did not have enough fuel to reach the inlet or outlet ports on the filter. The fuel line to the carburetor was devoid of fuel, and the carburetor float bowl contained less than a teaspoon.

Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to open the fuel shutoff valve during the preflight examination of the airplane which resulted in a total loss of engine power during initial climb after takeoff due to fuel starvation.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: ERA15CA321
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 7 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB ERA15CA321

History of this aircraft

Other occurrences involving this aircraft
15 May 1983 UNREG San Diego Ultralight Park 0 Lakeside, CA w/o
15 May 1983 Unreg. San Diego Ultralight Park 0 Lakeside, CA w/o
5 November 1983 unreg. private 1 Elwin, IL w/o
5 November 1983 UNREG Paul Miller Elwin, IL w/o
29 November 1993 UNREG Private Newark, TX sub
29 November 1993 unreg. private 1 Newark, TX sub
7 May 2011 UNREG Todd Alan Tollefson 0 Crookston, Minnesota sub
Loss of control

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
07-Oct-2022 06:31 ASN Update Bot Added

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org