James Walter HORNET N7XS

Summary

On 18 March 2007 at about 18:00 local time, a James Walter HORNET registered N7XS, operated by Julian A. Carlson, was involved in an accident near Talbotton, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 March 2007 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Talbotton, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Camilla-Mitchell County (CXU)

Coordinates

32.7367, -84.5925

Aircraft

James Walter HORNET

Registration

N7XS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Julian A. Carlson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Camilla → St Paul

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL07LA054

1 person died.

The failure of the right main fuel line, resulting in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to a witness, he recalled that the pilot was at the airport inquiring about the purchase of fuel. The witness stated that the pilot wanted to top off his right main fuel tank, and it required 9.1 gallons of fuel. The airplane was later found in a heavily wooded area, and the propeller exhibited no evidence of rotation. During the examination of the airplane it was noted that the right main tank fuel line was disconnected at the engine fuel intake line. During inspection of this fitting it was noted that the o-ring seal was very brittle, and the locking mechanism could not lock the fuel line into the engine fuel line fitting. This would have caused a restriction of fuel to the engine therefore causing fuel starvation, and a subsequent loss of engine power. After the accident, fuel was supplied to the engine and a test-run was successfully completed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.