James Schwarzman AVID FLYER HEAVY N771AF

Summary

On 26 July 1992 at about 20:15 local time, a James Schwarzman AVID FLYER HEAVY registered N771AF, operated by James Schwarzman, was involved in an accident near Truckee, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 July 1992 at 20:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Truckee, California, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

James Schwarzman AVID FLYER HEAVY

Registration

N771AF

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

James Schwarzman

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX92LA314

Nobody was injured.

FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE AIRCRAFT BUILDER LOCATING THE FUEL FILTER IN AN IMPROPER LOCATION DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SYSTEM.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING THE TURN FROM BASE TO FINAL ON A VFR APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING TO A ROAD. DURING LANDING ROLL, ONE WING COLLIDED WITH A BUSH AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN 8 TOTAL HOURS SINCE BEING BUILT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED A PARTIALLY BLOCKED FUEL FILTER WHICH WAS LOCATED BETWEEN THE MAIN (WING) TANKS AND A HEADER TANK. THE FUEL FROM THE MAIN TANKS TO THE HEADER TANK WAS GRAVITY FED AND REQUIRED ABOUT 1 POUND PER SQUARE INCH TO ENSURE A CONSTANT SUPPLY OF FUEL IN THE HEADER TANK. THE PARTIALLY BLOCKED FILTER WAS 'UP-STREAM' OF THE FUEL BOOST PUMP LOCATED IN THE HEADER TANK. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER/MANUFACTURER OF THE AIRPLANE, THE PARTIALLY BLOCKED FILTER REDUCED THE FUEL FLOW BELOW THAT REQUIRED TO ADEQUATELY SUPPLY FUEL TO THE HEADER TANK. THE OWNER ALSO STATED THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE PLACED THE FILTER IN THIS LOCATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.