Arthur Chase EAA BIPLANE N35AE

Summary

On 31 July 1994 at about 16:45 local time, a Arthur Chase EAA BIPLANE registered N35AE was involved in an accident near North Canaan, Connecticut, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 July 1994 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

North Canaan, Connecticut, United States

Nearest airport

Segalla Field (NONE)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Arthur Chase EAA BIPLANE

Registration

N35AE

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC94LA142

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection that failed to detect water contaminated fuel and which resulted in a loss of engine power. The inadequately designed fuel drain system was also a cause.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE WAS ON TAKEOFF CLIMB AT 400 TO 500 FEET AGL WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES DURING THE FORCED LANDING. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FOUND WATER IN THE FUEL LINE FROM THE CARBURETOR TO THE FUEL STRAINER AND THE CARBURETOR BOWL. THE FUEL TANK WAS FLAT ON THE BOTTOM WITH A DRAIN LINE LEADING TO THE FUEL STRAINER EMANATING FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE TANK. A TEST CONDUCTED BY THE OWNER FOUND THAT WITH THE AIRFRAME IN A THREE POINT ATTITUDE ON THE GROUND AND THE FUEL TANK EMPTY, IT WAS POSSIBLE TO ADD 40 OUNCES OF FUEL PRIOR TO FUEL RUNNING OUT OF THE DRAIN HOLE. ACCORDING TO THE EAA, THE DESIGN OF THE FUEL TANK DESIGN WAS DETERMINED BY THE INDIVIDUAL BUILDER. THE AIRPLANE WAS BUILT BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.