Pilot Debrief

REFLING RV8 near Bottineau, ND — 2015-10-06

Final reportCEN16LA012
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Date
2015-10-06
Location
Bottineau, ND, USA
Airport
D09
Aircraft
REFLING RV8
Registration
UNREG
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The pilot/builder’s failure to ensure that the fuel line was properly secured, which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent total loss of engine power.

NTSB narrative

The pilot/owner had just finished building the unregistered, noncertificated airplane and was conducting the flight to seat the piston rings on the newly installed engine. The pilot reported that, during the flight, he detected the odor of fuel in the cockpit. He continued the flight, and shortly after, the engine power decreased to idle. He continued to fly away from the airport while he tried to regain engine power. The pilot then turned back toward to the airport, and the engine subsequently experienced a total loss of power. The pilot determined that the airplane was not going to be able to reach the airport, so he chose a field for a forced landing. During the landing, the pilot lost directional control of the airplane due to the rough terrain, and the airplane impacted a parked tractor. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the fuel line between the mechanical fuel pump and the fuel injection servo was disconnected. The pilot stated that the engine was delivered with this fuel line installed and that he did not check the tightness of the fuel lines after installing the engine on the airplane.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not check fuel line tightness after engine installation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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