Pilot Debrief

JABIRU USA SPORT AIRCRAFT J250-SP near Fort Pierce, FL — 2021-03-30

Final reportERA21LA166
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Date
2021-03-30
Location
Fort Pierce, FL, USA
Aircraft
JABIRU USA SPORT AIRCRAFT J250-SP
Registration
N236X
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available information.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while in cruise flight, the engine ran rough then smoothed right out. The pilot elected to return to the airport and the engine roughness increased. He applied carburetor heat and cycled the magnetos. When operating on the left magneto the engine stopped, then it started again when the selector was placed back to the BOTH position. The airplane was shaking, and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude so he elected to perform a precautionary landing on a dirt road. The left wing stuck tree branches, and the airplane spun around and came to rest submerged in a canal adjacent to the road. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Although the weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor icing at glide power, the pilot reported that he used carburetor heat, which would have prevented the accumulation of ice. The reason for the total loss of engine power could not be determined based on available information.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have returned to the airport sooner after initial engine roughness.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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