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| Date: | Wednesday 7 October 2020 |
| Time: | 12:30 |
| Type: |  CZAW SportCruiser |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N251SC |
| MSN: | 08SC088 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2008 |
| Engine model: | Rotax 912 ULS |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Waterloo, AL -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | McKinney National Airport, TX (KTKI) |
| Oliver Springs Inc Airport, TN (TN08) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On October 7, 2020, about 1230 central daylight time, a Czech Aircraft Works Sportcruiser, N251SC, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Waterloo, Alabama. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to the pilot’s spouse, he departed on the morning of the accident to return home from a cross-country trip. A search was initiated when the pilot did not return as expected, and the airplane was found in a heavily wooded area about 45 nautical miles from an intermediate airport where the pilot had stopped to refuel.
Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the flight controls and the examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. An examination of the fuel system revealed that an aftermarket electric automotive fuel pump was used in place of the recommended manufacturer’s fuel pump. The fuel pump was removed and connected directly to a 12-volt power source, and it did not operate. This type of fuel pump did not allow fuel bypass in the event of failure. According to the engine manufacturer’s fuel system installation instructions and a safety directive published by the airframe manufacturer, a bypass fuel line should be installed in the event of failure of the electric fuel pump, in order to enable a continuous supply of fuel to the engine.
Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot experienced a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation following the failure of the electric fuel pump. Also causal was the pilot’s decision to install the electric fuel pump with no bypass fuel line, contrary to published guidance from the airframe and engine manufacturers.
Probable Cause: The improper configuration of the airplane’s fuel system, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation following the failure of the electric fuel pump.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.waff.com/2020/10/07/possible-plane-crash-lauderdale-county/
https://www.waaytv.com/content/news/Federal-aviation-officials-arrive-at-plane-crash-site-in-Lauderdale-County--572680151.html
NTSB
https://media.sandhills.com/n251sc-2008-czech-sport-aircraft-sportcruiser/img.axd?id=90874911&wid=6072144879&rwl=False&p=&ext=&w=614&h=460&t=&lp=&c=True&wt=False&sz=Max&rt=0&checksum=35S9HtV2TzgixgrNOENM3zWfmhBwQDl0lNa%2faWRodZg%3d (photo)
Location
Images:
Photo: NTSB
Media:
NTSB is investigating the Thursday, October 8, 2020, crash of a Czech Sportcruiser, Waterloo, AL. Investigator expected to arrive on scene this evening.
— NTSB_Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) October 8, 2020
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 08-Oct-2020 11:07 | gerard57 | Added |
| 08-Oct-2020 14:47 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 09-Oct-2020 06:59 | Captain Adam | Updated [Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
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