Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; DuPage, Illinois
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
https://registry.faa.gov/N699RV
Location: Newark, IL
Accident Number: CEN16LA387
Date & Time: 09/22/2016, 1400 CDT
Registration: N699RV
Aircraft: PAHNKE VERNON A VANS RV 9A
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (partial)
Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On September 22, 2016, about 1400 central daylight time (CDT), a Vans RV9A experimental airplane, N699RV, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Cushing Field Ltd Airport (0C8), Newark, Illinois. The private pilot was not injured and the passenger suffered minor injuries. The airplane was privately registered and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot and passenger were conducting a cross-country flight when the pilot observed the fuel pressure fluctuating, and the engine began sto surge. The pilot turned on the backup fuel pump; the engine continued to surge so he diverted to 0C8. The pilot stated he had difficulty maintaining visual reference to the airport and the airplane was losing altitude as he circled over the airport. The pilot performed an "S" turn and found he was still too high. He was running out of runway below him, so he performed a "hard slip" to lose altitude. The airplane stalled 10-15 ft above the runway, hit the ground, and slid about 30 ft before stopping.
The pilot reported he conducted a flight four days before the accident, on September 18, and he felt a "couple small pauses in the powerplant." The engine quit after landing and did not restart until the auxiliary fuel pump was turned on. He subsequently tested the primary fuel pump, which did not work, and ordered a new fuel pump. When the new pump arrived it did not have the bottom fitting attached, whereas the previous replacement was fully assembled. The pilot took the fitting off the old pump and there was an O-ring present; however, he did not see an O-ring with the new pump "kit." He said the mating surfaces were different between the two pumps and the new pump did not appear to require an O-ring. Additionally, the instructions that came with the new pump did not mention an O-ring. The pilot installed the new fuel pump without an O-ring and conducted a successful test of the new pump.
Following the accident flight, the pilot questioned whether there could have been an O-ring accompanying the new fuel pump that he had not seen. He examined the area where he performed the maintenance and subsequently located a 5/8" O-ring inside another component that came from the box containing the new pump. The pilot stated the accident was caused by this maintenance issue.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 68, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s):None
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s):None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Waiver Time Limited Special
Last FAA Medical Exam: 07/15/2015
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 09/16/2014
Flight Time: 1573 hours (Total, all aircraft), 515 hours (Total, this make and model), 1573 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 19 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 8 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: PAHNKE VERNON A
Registration: N699RV
Model/Series: VANS RV 9A NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 90537
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 06/11/2016, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 17500 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 515 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Subaru
ELT:
Engine Model/Series: EJ25
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 160 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: KC09, 584 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 10 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1855 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 124°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 2300 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.07 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C / 20°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: BOLINGBROOK, IL (1C5)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: GARDNER, KS (K34)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1330 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G
Airport Information
Airport: CUSHING FIELD LTD (0C8)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 640 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 18
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 2831 ft / 180 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Straight-in
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 41.519444, -88.605556 (est)
Lesson learned Cutting corners on repairs foolish thing to do lucky it wasn't fatal
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