Bezinque ALISPORT-SILENT N373DB
1 October 2008 · Vero Beach, Florida, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 1 October 2008 at about 19:02 local time, a Bezinque ALISPORT-SILENT registered N373DB, operated by Vincent Powers, was involved in an accident near Vero Beach, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. 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 19:02
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Vero Beach, Florida, United States
- Nearest airport
- Indian River Aerodrome (FL74)
- Coordinates
- 27.5850, -80.5019
- Aircraft
- Bezinque ALISPORT-SILENT
- Registration
- N373DB
- Category
- Glider
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Vincent Powers
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Vero Beach → Vero Beach
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA09LA001
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The failure of the electric fuel boost pump which resulted in a 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 pilot of the powered glider stated that about 30 seconds after takeoff, about 170 feet above the ground, the engine rpm decreased. He then leveled the glider and the engine stopped producing power. The pilot entered a left turn to land to the east and the engine "suddenly regained power." He then turned the glider to return to the airport, but when he leveled the wings the engine again stopped producing power. Lacking the altitude to return to the airport, the pilot chose a road for a forced landing. The landing area was blocked with cars and power poles, so he landed the glider "hard" in the grass adjacent to the roadway to avoid the obstacles. A detailed examination of the glider revealed that with electrical power applied, the fuel boost pump did not pump fuel from the pump outlet port.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar 2008 | Cessna 182B | Wildwood, Florida, United States | Henry George Traill | Fatal | 2 |
| 15 Dec 2008 | Bell OH-58C | Osceola County, Florida, United States | Helicopter Applicators, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 13 Dec 2008 | Kimball PITTS MODEL-12 | Weirdales, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jun 2008 | McKeehan James F ACRODUSTER II SA750 | Panama City, Florida, United States | Kevin G. Gorham | Fatal | 1 |
| 6 May 2008 | Beechcraft 65-A90 | Titusville, Florida, United States | Titusville Drop Zone | No injuries | - |
| 29 Aug 2008 | Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-C | Sebring, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |