Dragon Fly GT-500 N101GP

Summary

On 21 April 2008 at about 14:50 local time, a Dragon Fly GT-500 registered N101GP, operated by Joel D. Pennington, was involved in an accident near Paris, Tennessee, 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

21 April 2008 at 14:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Paris, Tennessee, United States

Coordinates

36.3056, -88.4539

Aircraft

Dragon Fly GT-500

Registration

N101GP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Joel D. Pennington

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Paris → Paris

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC08LA165

1 person died.

A fuel system configuration that was not in accordance with the engine manufacturer's published guidance, which resulted in a complete loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated commercial pilot was the first registered owner of the amateur-built light sport airplane, but he did not build the airplane. On the day of the accident, after two aerial application flights, he returned to his airport to replenish the application chemical for a third trip to the same agricultural field. About 30 minutes later, a witness heard the engine "sputter" during a spray run, and observed the airplane begin a climbing right turn back towards the airport. The engine stopped and restarted, and the airplane began another climb in the direction of the airport. The engine stopped a second time, and two witnesses saw the airplane descend without engine power into a wooded area. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the pilot was fatally injured. Autopsy results indicated that the pilot had diabetes, coronary artery disease, an enlarged heart, and gallstones. In addition, he was taking a medication commonly prescribed for neurological pain, and another for smoking cessation, both of which had the potential to cause distraction or impairment. It was not clear what role, if any, the medical conditions or medications played in the accident. He did not note any medications or medical conditions on his most recent application for medical certificate, but it is possible that the medications were initially prescribed since that application. At the time of the accident, the airplane and engine had accumulated approximately 89 hours since new. The pilot had previously experienced engine stoppage problems, and had conducted at least one forced landing due to an engine stoppage. Subsequent to that forced landing, and in the weeks just prior the accident, the pilot installed an electric fuel pump, which was in addition to the existing engine-driven fuel pump. Post-accident examination of the airplane indicated that the engine fuel system was not configured or equipped in accordance with the engine manufacturer's published guidance. Differences included fuel lines that were not thermally shrouded, lack of a fuel pump bypass circuit, lack of a fuel return line, and pump output pressure which exceeded the engine manufacturer's limits. The engine manufacturer's guidance contained multiple statements that such differences could result in engine problems and/or stoppage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.