Plane Crash List

Hanson VARIEZE N220EZ

4 September 2005 · New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 4 September 2005 at about 21:54 local time, a Hanson VARIEZE registered N220EZ was involved in an accident near New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, 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.

The record

Date
at 21:54
Classification
Accident
Location
New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates
40.2167, -76.8500
Aircraft
Hanson VARIEZE
Registration
N220EZ
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
New Cumberland → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
IAD05LA147

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 1 0

Probable cause

The owner/builder's inadequate fuel tank inspection during construction, which resulted in fuel contamination and subsequent fuel starvation to the engine.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane had been airborne for about 5 minutes when the engine lost power. The pilot then force landed in a field, and the airplane nosed over. During a post-accident examination, the propeller was replaced, and the engine was started and operated for about 5 minutes at 1,700 rpm. The fuel system was also examined, and the fuel screens in both fuel tanks were found to be covered in a "fine muddy silt," consistent with mud dauber activity. A subsequent fuel analysis revealed that particulate contamination and gum levels were "very high." The fuel tanks had been open during the airplane's construction, and the airplane had about 30 hours of operation at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

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All 170,864 records in United States