Sunday, November 19, 2017

Fuel Related: Rockwell International 112A, N1401J; accident occurred November 19, 2017 near Clearwater Airpark (KCLW), Pinellas County, Florida

Fuel Servo Debris 


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

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Tampa, Florida

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/N1401J

Location: Clearwater, FL
Accident Number: ANC18LA010
Date & Time: 11/19/2017, 1030 EST
Registration: N1401J
Aircraft: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL 112A
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel related
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On November 19, 2017, about 1030 eastern standard time, a Rockwell International 112 airplane, N1401J, impacted trees during a forced landing on a city street about one mile northeast of Clearwater Air Park (KCLW), St. Petersburg, Florida, following a total loss of engine power. The private pilot and sole passenger sustained no injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was being operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 visual flight rules personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Zephyrhills Airport (KZPH), Zephyrhills, Florida about 1008 for the roughly 35 nautical mile flight to KCLW.

According to the pilot, prior to departing KZPH, he added about 30 gallons of fuel to the airplane, which filled the left fuel tank completely and the right tank was about 7/8 full. He performed a walk-around inspection, but did not sump the fuel system for contaminants prior to departure. The roughly 20-minute flight was conducted with the fuel selector on the left tank. When descending through 1,200 ft msl, the pilot conducted the before landing checklist, which included increasing the mixture to full rich, turning on the auxiliary fuel pump and switching the fuel selector to the "BOTH" position. He then reduced the throttle to slow the aircraft and felt "slight resistance" on the throttle lever. About 10 seconds after switching the fuel selector, he began to lose airspeed faster than anticipated. When he looked at the fuel flow indicator, he saw it slowly transition from 8 gallons per hour to zero and the engine subsequently lost all power. He placed the fuel selector back to the left fuel tank, but the engine would not restart. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted a tree in the median of a 4-lane street prior to impacting and coming to rest in a stand of trees adjacent to the roadway.

Video footage captured the airplane as it approached the roadway as well as the final impact. The initial impact with the tree in the median was not captured. The video depicts the airplane in a controlled, level descent. Due to the quality of the video, propeller rotation could not be determined.

The engine was examined on December 6, 2017 at the facilities of Florida Air Recovery, Jacksonville, FL under the auspices of the National Transportation Safety Board, (NTSB). The engine remained attached to the airframe by the engine mount. The engine had sustained impact damage to the underside. The exhaust system had been displaced up and aft. The fuel injection servo sustained impact damage to the underside, which resulted in a cracked and displaced mounting flange. In addition, the throttle linkage was damaged and displaced.

The engine was prepped to be test run, which included replacing the propeller, and attempting to seal the induction leaks created by the cracked and displaced fuel injection servo with metal tape. In addition, the throttle linkage was secured with tie wraps and the damaged exhaust pipe tip was removed.

Fuel was introduced upstream of the engine driven fuel pump but downstream of the electric driven fuel pump. A fuel can with 100LL Avgas was placed below the engine and the engine was primed with a separate auxiliary electric driven fuel pump. The engine was not run at full power due to impact damage to the airframe and engine, but it was operated at various idle power settings while cycling through both magnetos. At about 1600 rpm, a drop of about 50 rpm was noted for the left and right magnetos.

On May 9, 2018, a representative of the NTSB traveled to AVStar Fuel Systems, Inc. to witness operational testing of the fuel injection servo.

The fuel inlet strainer was removed and when tapped on white paper some debris was noted (figure 1). Some debris was also noted inside the strainer. Oil/dirt was noted on the exterior of the fuel servo. The mixture screw assembly was centered.

Fuel Servo

The fuel servo was placed on the test bench as received. The throttle valve was set at 0.007 inch (production units are set to 0.006 inch). The fuel servo was subjected to bench testing at calibration and service limits consisting of 4 Test Points. The fuel servo was flowed onto white paper; no contaminants or water was noted during the first fluid coming from the unit. During testing at Test Point 1, the regulator was "hanging up" at 80 pounds-per-hour (PPH), when it should have been between 22.0 and 28.0 PPH. This was likely due to air trapped inside the fuel servo. The fuel servo was then manipulated on the test bench in an effort to remove trapped air. The fuel servo was then subjected to Test Point 4, and flowed within limits. Additionally, the travel and hysteresis checks were satisfactory. The unit was then subjected to Test Point 1 and tested satisfactory. At Test Point 2 which is the idle cutoff check, 2 drops were noted in 1 minute (maximum leakage is 5 CC's in 1 minute. At Test Points 3 and 4, the unit flowed within limits and the pressure sensitivity checks at each of those test points were satisfactory. The idle fuel flow with the throttle valve where found (0.007 inch) flowed 11.0 PPH. The throttle valve was adjusted to 0.006 inch and the fuel flow was 6.5 PPH (the idle fuel flow specification is 6.0 to 7.0 PPH). The pressure sensitivity test at idle fuel flow was satisfactory.

Disassembly examination of the fuel servo revealed the regulator self-locking nut was in-place. When attempting to remove only the regulator cover, the air diaphragm, center body, fuel diaphragm and regulator cover separated from the fuel servo body. The air diaphragm and air side of the regulator were clean. A slight amount of fine residue (dust) was noted on the fuel diaphragm, but that did not affect the operation of the fuel servo. Slight contamination was noted on the fuel side of the center body, and also in the servo body regulator section. The fuel diaphragm stem was intact. The passages of the air venturi were clean but slight oily residue was noted on areas of the exterior surface.

The closest official weather observation station is St. Petersburg Airport (KPIE), St. Petersburg, Florida, which is located about 6 miles southeast of the accident site. At 0953, a METAR was reporting, in part, wind 230° at 11 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; clouds and ceiling clear; temperature 79° F; dew point 64° F; altimeter 29.95 inches of Mercury.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 61, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 06/01/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 11/15/2017
Flight Time:   450 hours (Total, all aircraft), 245 hours (Total, this make and model), 450 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 25 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 15 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL
Registration: N1401J
Model/Series: 112A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1975
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 401
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 03/04/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2950 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 30 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2176 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO360 SER
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 200 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: KPIE, 11 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 6 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1453 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 137°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 11 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 230°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.95 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C / 18°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: ZEPHYRHILLS, FL (ZPH)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Clearwater, FL (CLW)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1008 EST
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information

Airport: CLEARWATER AIR PARK (CLW)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 71 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 16
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 4108 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:1 None 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None

Latitude, Longitude: 27.983056, -82.763056 (est)

Location: Clearwater, FL
Accident Number: ANC18LA010
Date & Time: 11/19/2017, 1030 EST
Registration: N1401J
Aircraft: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL 112A
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under:  Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On November 19, 2017, about 1030 eastern standard time, a Rockwell International 112A airplane, N1401J, impacted trees during a forced landing on a city street about one mile northeast of Clearwater Air Park (KCLW), St. Petersburg, Florida, following a total loss of engine power. The private pilot and sole passenger sustained no injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was being operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 visual flight rules personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Zephyrhills Airport (KZPH), Zephyrhills, Florida about 1008 for the roughly 35 nautical mile flight to KCLW.

According to the pilot, prior to departing KZPH, he added about 30 gallons of fuel to the airplane, which filled the left fuel tank completely and the right tank was about 7/8 full. He performed a walk-around inspection, but did not sump the fuel system for contaminants prior to departure. The roughly 20-minute flight was conducted with the fuel selector on the left tank. When descending through 1,200 ft msl, the pilot conducted the before landing checklist, which included increasing the mixture to full rich, turning on the auxiliary fuel pump and switching the fuel selector to the "BOTH" position. He then reduced the throttle to slow the aircraft and felt "slight resistance" on the throttle lever. About 10 seconds after switching the fuel selector, he began to lose airspeed faster than anticipated. When he looked at the fuel flow indicator, he saw it slowly transition from 8 gallons per hour to zero and the engine subsequently lost all power. He placed the fuel selector back to the left fuel tank, but the engine would not restart. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted a tree in the median of a 4-lane street prior to impacting and coming to rest in a stand of trees adjacent to the roadway.

Video footage captured the airplane as it approached the roadway as well as the final impact. The initial impact with the tree in the median was not captured. The video depicts the airplane in a controlled, level descent. Due to the quality of the video, propeller rotation could not be determined.

The closest official weather observation station is St. Petersburg Airport (KPIE), St. Petersburg, Florida, which is located about 6 miles southeast of the accident site. At 0953, a METAR was reporting, in part, wind 230° at 11 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; clouds and ceiling clear; temperature 79° F; dew point 64° F; altimeter 29.95 inches of Mercury.

The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming Engines IO-360 series engine. A detail engine and airframe examination is pending. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL
Registration: N1401J
Model/Series: 112A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
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: KPIE, 11 ft msl
Observation Time: 1453 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 6 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C / 18°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 11 knots, 230°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.95 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: ZEPHYRHILLS, FL (ZPH)
Destination: Clearwater, FL (CLW)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude:  27.983056, -82.763056 (est) 



17-248 
Pinellas County Deputies Investigate A Small Plane Crash Near Clearwater Airpark in Unincorporated Clearwater 

Small Plane Crash Investigation

Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

Clearwater Airpark – 1000 North Hercules Avenue Clearwater

Zephyrhills Municipal Airport – 39450 South Avenue, Zephyrhills

Marc Allen Benedict (Uninjured Pilot)
DOB:03/20/1956
Address:1972 Hastings Drive, Clearwater

Gregory Guinee (Uninjured Passenger)
DOB: 09/16/1962
Address:1972 Hastings Drive, Clearwater

What:
Pinellas County Deputies are currently assisting the FAA and NTSB with a plane crash investigation that occurred near the Clearwater Airpark Airport.  

When:
The crash occurred at approximately 10:23 a.m. on November 19, 2017.

Where:
The plane crash occurred at 1817 North Keene Road, Clearwater.

 Near the Clearwater Airpark Airport 1000 North Hercules Avenue Clearwater.

Why/How:
Pinellas County Deputies are currently assisting the FAA and NTSB with a plane crash investigation that occurred at 1817 North Keene Road, Clearwater.

Deputies first received reports of the plane crash this morning at approximately 10:23 a.m. Two Deputies were responding to an unrelated call for service, in the vicinity and witnessed the plane crash.

According to the Pilot 61-year-old Marc Allen Benedict at approximately 9:00, the single-engine Rockwell International aircraft 112-A piloted by Benedict along with his passenger 55-year-old Gregory Guinee had taken off from Clearwater Airpark located at 1000 North Hercules Avenue Clearwater, flew to the  Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, 39450 South Avenue, Zephyrhills Florida.

Deputies say after refueling the aircraft at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, they attempted to return back to the Clearwater Airpark at approximately 10:00 a.m. The pilot reported to deputies he believed there to be engine trouble while in the air over the area of Sunset Point Road and Belcher Road area in Clearwater.

Benedict told investigators he did not believe he could make it back to the Clearwater Airpark and began looking for a safe place to land. Benedict said he saw a deputy near the intersection of Keene Road and Sunset Point Road. Benedict said he then observed what appeared to be an opening and attempted to land the plane on Keene Road. While landing, Benedict reported the pilot side, (left wing) caught a tree causing the plane to spin and crash at 1817 North Keene Road, Clearwater.

Investigators say both the pilot Benedict and his passenger Guinee reported no injuries and refused medical treatment.

The investigation into the cause of the crash is being conducted by the FAA and NTSB. It has not yet been determined what caused the plane to crash.

The investigation continues.  

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

Pilot Marc Benedict, left, and passenger Gregory Guinee, rest on the curb along Keene Road after walking away from the crash of a small plane on Sunday along Keene Road, south of Sunset Point Road, in Clearwater. The plane was a Rockwell Commander 112A.



CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) – “We’re going down!”  šŸ˜¬

That’s what pilot Marc Benedict told his roommate before making an emergency landing on a busy road Sunday morning.

With an airborne engine failure, Benedict had to put the plane down right away.

Seconds later, he did just that, in the middle of Keene Road in Clearwater.

A small tree spun the plane into a fence.

“There’s a lot to do and it requires concentration, and it’s the culmination of a lot of good training,” said Captain John Cox, retired pilot and current consultant for Safety Operating Systems.

Captain Cox said take offs and landings are the most critical times.

“Based on the video I saw, he did a really good job. The airplane is under control, the landing gear is down. Clearly, he is flying the airplane. He is thinking. He’s deliberately putting it in a safe place,” said Captain Cox.

The pilot of plane that landed on the road said he and his roommate had flown to the Zephyrhills airport, topped off his fuel tanks, then made the trip back to Clearwater Airpark.

Over the “Top of the World” community, not far from the landing strip, Benedict discovered he could not climb and was losing power.

He told passenger Greg Guinee, “we’re going down.”

Seeing traffic in the southbound lanes, he headed for the northbound side.

He yelled for Greg to “brace.”

Seconds later, he hit a sapling, which made him lose control.

With the tanks ruptured, both got out. Captain Cox believes it was lucky there was not a spark to start a fire.

The pilot suspects something happened with the plane’s fuel system.

He’s very happy nobody got hurt and while he missed church yesterday, he plans to be there next Sunday.


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



CLEARWATER — Two men walked away unhurt from a small airplane after it clipped a tree and spun around as the pilot tried to make an emergency landing on Keene Road, deputies said.

Pilot Marc Benedict, 61, and passenger Gregory Guinee, 55, of Clearwater, were not injured when the single-engine, four-seat Rockwell Commander 112 crashed about 10:25 a.m. Sunday along Keene Road at Sunset Point Road, said Pinellas County Sheriff's Office spokesman Cpl. Daniel DiFrancesco.

Benedict experienced engine trouble as he was returning to Clearwater Air Park from Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, DiFrancesco said. He had taken off for Zephyrhills about 9 a.m. and took off about 10 a.m. for the return trip.

Benedict reported engine trouble while flying southwest over On Top of the World, a 55-plus community in Clearwater, and attempted to land on Keene Road.

The left wing hit a tree in the road's median, causing the plane to spin around and come to a stop on a sidewalk.

An investigation is under way but deputies said there was no indication of impairment. The Federal Aviation Administration was scheduled to take overe the probe.

Keene Road was expected to be blocked until the plane could be towed away.

Wayne Owens, 49, heard the crash from his house on Bentley Street, just one house away from where the plane landed.

Owens, an electrician, thought it was a car crash before he noticed the downed tree and mangled plane. He's heard of other plane crashes nearby.


"I feel very uneasy about it," he said. "I didn't think about it until after I bought the place that we're right in the direct line of the airport."

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





CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) —A small plane crashed in unincorporated Clearwater Sunday morning. Fortunately, both the pilot and passenger survived without any injuries.

The crash occurred on North Keene Road near Sunset Point Road, less than one mile from the Clearwater Airpark around 10:30 a.m.

Deputies said the single-engine Rockwell International aircraft 112-A piloted by 61-year-old Marc Allen Benedict had flown from Clearwater Airpark to Zephyrhills Municipal Airport

“They refueled and spent a little bit of time there before they departed to come back to Clearwater Airpark,” said Corporal Dan DiFrancesco with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

Benedict told officials the plane began experiencing engine trouble while in the air over the area of Sunset Point Road and Belcher Road and he was forced to reroute the plane.

He said he worried he wouldn’t make it back to the airport and started looking for a safe place to land.

“He noticed the road was open,” said Corporal DiFrancesco. “He also noticed we had deputy in the area that was helping because he was on a traffic stop.”

While Benedict attempted a landing on Keene Road, part of the plane caught a tree, causing the aircraft to spin out of control and crash on the road. A deputy’s dash cam captured it on video.

“His words to me:  He would have made it if it had not been for that small tree,” recalled Corporal DiFrancesco.

Benedict and his passenger, 55-year-old Gregory Guinee would not speak to News Channel 8 on camera.

The chaotic scene caught neighbors by surprise.

“I could not believe that a plane actually crashed right literally a block from my house,” said Belinda Maxwell, who has lived in the area for about eight years.

“I said. ‘Oh my god, how could that be?’” another resident, Joe Pasquarella exclaimed.

“It could have been a whole lot worse,” said Maxwell. “Thank God no one lost their lives.”

Investigators do not believe impairment was a factor in the crash but an investigation is ongoing.

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




CLEARWATER (FOX 13) - Investigators with the FAA, NTSB, and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office are investigating a small plane that crashed in Clearwater Sunday morning. 

According to the pilot, 61-year-old Marc Benedict, just after 10:00 a.m his Rockwell International 112A took off from Zephyrhills Airport heading towards Clearwater. The pilot reported that the noticed a problem with the engine while he was over the area of Sunset Road and Belcher Road in Clearwater. 


Benedict told investigators he did not feel like the plane would make it back to the airport and began to search for a safe plane to land. Benedict spotted an area on Keene Road and attempted to land. While doing so, the plane's left wing hit a tree causing the plane to spin and crash at 1817 North Keene Road. 


Deputies say both Benedict and his passenger were not hurt in the incident. 


The investigation is being conducted by the FAA and NTSB. There is no word yet as to what caused the crash. 


Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.fox13news.com

5 comments:

  1. not an incident, it's an accident for sure

    ReplyDelete
  2. Some video before landing https://www.mediaite.com/online/watch-police-dash-cam-catches-private-plane-plummeting-from-the-sky/

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kudos to the pilot for walking away from that only because he flew it all the way to impact. My flight instructor was a Vietnam Huey pilot that told me when his chopper got all shot up and his crew were dead he "never quit flying the aircraft" until he landed back at base. These guys will fly another day! Too bad that small tree was in the median or he just might have pulled that landing off.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great find on the Video! Thanks. That is also right by my house. Excellent job by the pilot.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The diesel fuel acts as a lubricating source for the injector's internal parts. what is the best fuel injector cleaner

    ReplyDelete