Sunday, September 24, 2017

Fuel Contamination: Rutan VariEze, N830S; accident occurred September 24, 2017 near Wings Field Airport (KLOM), Blue Bell, Whitpain Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entities:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Lycoming Engines; Williamsport, Pennsylvania


Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N830S

Location: Ambler, PA
Accident Number: ERA17LA333
Date & Time: 09/24/2017, 1715 EDT
Registration: N830S
Aircraft: BUSCHMANN/VANZEE VARI EZ
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel contamination
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On September 24, 2017, about 1715 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vari EZ, N830S, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain near Ambler, Pennsylvania. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Wings Field Airport (LOM), Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, just prior to the accident.

According to a witness, during takeoff, the engine sounded like it did "not reach full rpm" and it took the entire 3,700-ft-long runway for the airplane to lift off the ground. Then, about 200 ft above ground level the engine "stopped." Another witness reported hearing the engine "sputter." The airplane was "wobbling," descended, and impacted trees prior to coming to rest near a house.

Initial examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that both fuel tanks were ruptured, and fuel was leaking from the wings. The canopy was separated from the fuselage and the forward section of the fuselage exhibited crush damage. The engine remained attached to the airframe and the propeller remained attached to the engine.

According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 1984 and registered the pilot in May 2017. It was equipped with a Lycoming O-235-C series, 100-horsepower engine that drove a Sensenich propeller. According to airplane maintenance logbooks, the most recent condition inspection was completed on April 1, 2017, at 691.0 total aircraft hours.

The engine was removed from the airframe to facilitate further examination. The rocker box covers were removed, and rocker arm movement was noted on all cylinders when the propeller was rotated by hand. Compression and suction were noted on all cylinders. All spark plugs were removed and exhibited normal wear when compared to the Champion Check-A-Plug chart. The magneto was removed, operated, and spark was noted on all towers. Corrosion was noted throughout the engine. It was noted at the crankshaft end of the No. 2 connecting rod and all gears in the accessory section of the engine.

The gascolator was removed and water was noted in the fuel. Also, debris was noted in the fuel that restricted the flow of fluid from the gascolator. The carburetor was removed and disassembled. Water was noted in the carburetor when tested with water finding paste. The left fuel tank fuel cap was impact separated and the tank was breached. The debris noted in the fuel was consistent with a substance that was dried on the interior of the left fuel tank.

The right fuel tank contained fuel and tested negative for water. When water was poured over the right fuel tank cap while it was seated, then the cap was removed, the fuel in the right tank tested positive for water with water finding paste.

According to the pilot, as a result of his injuries from the accident, he was unable to recall any of the events leading up to the accident. However, he stated that it was routine practice for him to complete a thorough preflight inspection and does not believe there would be a reason that a thorough preflight was not completed on the day of the accident. He also stated that the airplane was kept outside.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 29, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present:No 
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3
Last FAA Medical Exam: 01/01/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: BUSCHMANN/VANZEE
Registration: N830S
Model/Series: VARI EZ
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 2069
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/01/2017, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 691 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: Installed
Engine Model/Series: O-235-C
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 100 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: LOM, 302 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 3 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1715 EDT
Direction from Accident Site:202° 
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 50°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 30°C / 18°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Blue Bell, PA (LOM)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination:
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1715
Type of Airspace:

Airport Information

Airport: Wings Field Airport (LOM)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 302 ft
Runway Surface Condition:
Runway Used: 06
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3700 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 40.143333, -75.244444 (est)

NTSB Identification: ERA17LA333
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, September 24, 2017 in Ambler, PA
Aircraft: BUSCHMANN/VANZEE VARI EZ, registration: N830S
Injuries: 1 Serious.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On September 24, 2017, about 1715 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vari EZ, N830S, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain near Ambler, Pennsylvania. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Wings Field Airport (LOM), Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, just prior to the accident.

According to a witness, during takeoff, the engine sounded like it did "not reach full rpm" and it took the entire 3,700-ft-long runway for the airplane to lift off the ground. Then, about 200 ft above ground level the engine "stopped." Another witness reported hearing the engine "sputter." The airplane was "wobbling," descended, and impacted trees prior to coming to rest near a house.

Initial examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that both fuel tanks were ruptured and fuel was leaking from the wings. The canopy was separated from the fuselage and the forward section of the fuselage exhibited crush damage. The engine remained attached to the airframe and the propeller remained attached to the engine.

The airplane was retained for further examination.



WHITPAIN TWP., Pa. (WPVI) --  A pilot was seriously injured after his plane crashed near a house in Whitpain Township, Montgomery County over the weekend.

Phillip Beckner, 29, of Crofton, Maryland, remained hospitalized in critical condition at Penn-Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia as of Monday evening.

The crash happened on Meade Road just after 5 p.m. Sunday. Authorities say the pilot had just taken off from nearby Wings Field Airport.

After the crash, Beckner got some help from quick-thinking neighbors who rushed to cut him from the plane.

"I open up the door, I see people running down the street and someone said, 'Oh my God there's a plane crash!'" said David Buck of Whitpain Township.

Douglas DiSandro, who lives across the street, was in his backyard when he said he heard the small plane overhead, sputtering, and flying low.

"Too close to the house," said DiSandro. "I knew the trees in the front and I said there's no way he's clearing those. And then I heard the crash and I ran out front."

DiSandro said he and another neighbor frantically searched for the pilot, and found him when they heard a gurgling sound coming from the bushes.

"Brian noticed there was a strap around his neck. One of his straps holding him into the seat, and so Brian called for scissors," said DiSandro. "We elevated him to get the pressure off his neck because he clearly wasn't breathing, until we could get the strap cut off."

DiSandro said then the pilot started gasping.

Neighbors said having planes in the area is not unusual, but the crash is alarming.

"We see planes - 4, 5, 6 a day -- and it's a nice view to watch the planes go across the field right there but this is like a reality, wake-up check," said Buck. "It's kind of scary."

Police were at the scene overnight to make sure nothing was disturbed.

Story and video ➤  http://6abc.com









A pilot had to be cut from the wreckage of a home-built aircraft after the plane crashed into the front yard of a Whitpain Township, Pennsylvania home Sunday afternoon, officials and witnesses said.

The single engine VariEze style plane went down just after 5 p.m. along Meade Road, police said.

Witnesses and police said the plane lost altitude shortly after takeoff and hit several trees before breaking apart on the front lawn of a home.

A pair of neighbors — Douglas DiSandro and Brian McShain — rushed to the wreckage and started searching for the pilot.

"I heard gurgling in a bush and we found where the pilot was," neighbor DiSandro said.

When they got into the bush, they found the pilot being choked by the plane's seat belt. The men lifted his body to relive the pressure on his neck until another person brought scissors to cut him free.

"He relieved the pressure on his neck and he started gasping again," DiSando said.

Paramedics took the pilot, who has not yet been identified, to Penn Presbyterian Trauma Center in Philadelphia. Police said his injuries didn't appear to be life-threatening, but a condition was not available.

The development where the crash happened is 1½ miles from Wings Field — a small airport where the plane took off from this afternoon.

Wreckage is strewn across the lawn and garden of 25 Meade Road. It appears the house was spared from being hit. There was a person inside the home when the crash happened.

"We're very fortunate that nobody got hurt on this scene. It's amazing," Whitpain Twp. Police Chief Kenneth Lawson said.

VariEze aircraft debuted in the 1970s and are a cheaper alternative to other popular small aircraft like Cessna or Piper, according to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. The planes are typically made of composite foam and fiberglass, the museum said.

The National Transportation Safety Board will visit the crash site Monday to launch an investigation.

Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com






WHITPAIN TOWNSHIP, PA (CBS) — Whitpain Township police say one person was injured after a small plane crashed at a residence in Montgomery County Sunday evening.

Officials say the crash took place shortly after 5 p.m. at a home at 25 Meade road after the plane took off from the Wings Field Airport.

Chief Kenneth Lawson of the Whitpain Township police department says fire and rescue crews discovered a small single-engine plane that had crashed on the Montco property containing only the pilot.

“I heard a plane that clearly sounded like it was in distress, and I looked up it was flying way too close to our house,” said neighbor Douglas Disandro. “Next thing I know I hear the crash, ran out front and saw a bunch of debris at the house across the street.”

Disandro says that he and another neighbor Brian McShane found the plane with the pilot in a “bush” on the property.

“Brian McShane, who’s my neighbor, he was here first. He saved the day. He saved the guys life.” said neighbor David Buck. “We were next to the [pilot] and we were holding him and there was no pulse. [McShane] reaches to find a pulse, and then he realized their was a seat belt around the guy’s neck, and that was the problem right there. So we were able to cut that off.”

Authorities say the pilot, whose has not be identified, was transported to Penn Presbyterian hospital with no word on his condition.

Officials say there was one person inside of the home at the time of the crash, but thankfully that person was not injured.

“It’s scary,” said Buck. “Wings field is right there. We see planes, you know four, five, six, ten a day, and it’s a nice view to watch the planes go right down. You know kinda across the field right there, but this is kind of a reality wake up check, it’s kind of scary.”

Chief Lawson says the Federal Aviation Administration has been notified and that National Transportation Safety Board will be on scene Monday to investigate.

Story and video ➤  http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com






MONTGOMERY COUNTY (WTXF) - Emergency crews were on the scene of a small plane crash in Whitpain Township in Montgomery County Sunday evening.

The incident took place around 5 p.m.

The extent of injuries are unknown at this time.

The Federal Aviation Administration released the following statement:

A Buschmann Vanzetti VariEze experimental aircraft crashed approximately one mile from the end of Runway 24 at the Wings Field Airport, Blue Bell, PA today at 5:11 pm. Contact local authorities for information on the pilot. The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate.

Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.fox29.com

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