March 6, 2018
While on a 1-mile final approach for landing, about 400 feet above the ground, the engine lost total power. The pilot applied full throttle and enriched the mixture, but only a momentary return of power occurred before the engine lost power again. The airspeed decreased, and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall and impacted a house and terrain.
Post-accident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures. Nonvolatile memory data recorded during the accident flight revealed a large spike in fuel flow, followed by a zero rpm reading, which was indicative of a total loss of engine power due to air passing through the fuel line and transducer rather than fuel. It is likely that the fuel flow to the engine was interrupted, but a post-accident examination of the engine and fuel system could not determine what caused the interruption.
Done or done enough.
I built a Long EZ. I started with a partial build and spent over 20 years building. I got to the point where the plane was good enough. I didn’t want to paint the plane until I flew the plane and corrected any problems I encountered. The flying quality was great, but I have been making small changes since. I’m glad I didn’t paint the plane and flew with primer.
I did some “upgrades” that didn’t turn out as I expected. I bought a better nose wheel fork that was not put together right and it flew off on landing. My fuel probes I found out that these bought at that time leak. I bought a electric nose lift and it was supposed to fit without modification to the airframe, The airframe has to be modified to fit.
I will say, anyone selling parts for airplanes, take the time to make sure they are put together correctly and fit. Two of the parts had the potential to cause a crash. Any parts I buy now, I inspect carefully.
air in fuel line is there away to bleed before flight?
The NTSB says the takeoff was about 1330, and the accident occurred about an hour later. The report doesn’t say if the fuel system had “Left-Right-Both” settings, which, if the pilot had switched to a previously-unused tank just before the engine quit, might have explained the interruption in fuel flow.
However, the report states, “…As the airplane turned onto the final approach leg of the traffic pattern, the engine lost total power. The pilot reported that he checked the fuel shutoff valve, and verified it was on…” This implies a simple on-off control, which means an air bubble shouldn’t have been still present since before takeoff.
The fuel tanks were low at the crash site, but there was evidence of fuel spillage and the pilot reported filling the tanks just before takeoff.
Offhand, I’d wonder whether a slug of water had collected in a tank, to slop over the baffles and choke off the engine. But the NTSB investigators said the carburetors had fuel in them, not water.
‘Tis a puzzler…..