Huston Charles D PITTS S-12 N922TP
5 June 2009 · Spicewood, Texas, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 5 June 2009 at about 01:00 local time, a Huston Charles D PITTS S-12 registered N922TP, operated by Huston Charles D, was involved in an accident near Spicewood, Texas, 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 01:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Spicewood, Texas, United States
- Nearest airport
- Spicewood Airport (88R)
- Coordinates
- 30.4799, -98.1603
- Aircraft
- Huston Charles D PITTS S-12
- Registration
- N922TP
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Huston Charles D
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Spicewood → Spicewood
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN09LA341
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the presence of an unidentified contaminant in the fuel system which clogged the fuel flow sensor. Contributing to the accident was the manufacturer’s installation of the fuel flow sensor upstream of the fuel filter and the misleading fuel schematic published by the airplane kit manufacturer.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The airplane was on departure when the engine started sputtering and lost power. The pilot turned toward the runway and landed beside the runway in the dirt, substantially damaging the airplane. Postaccident examination revealed that the fuel flow sensor, which was located upstream of the fuel flow filter, was clogged with an unidentified substance and there was particulate matter in the fuel lines. The source of the substances could not be determined. The experimental airplane manufacturer installed the fuel flow sensor upstream of the fuel flow filter as depicted on a fuel flow schematic, provided for information only, by the airplane airframe kit manufacturer. The installation instructions for the fuel flow sensor indicated the fuel flow sensor should be installed downstream of a fuel filter.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Apr 2009 | American Legend AL-3C | McKinney, Texas, United States | McRight-Smith Aviation, LP | No injuries | - |
| 2 Oct 2009 | Beechcraft A36 | Refugio, Texas, United States | Aero Mark JM LLC | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Oct 2009 | Beechcraft E18S | Jones Creek, Texas, United States | Brazoria County | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 2009 | Robinson R22 BETA | O'Donnell, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Jun 2009 | Meyers OTW | Haskell, Texas, United States | Ashbach Richard P | No injuries | - |
| 11 Dec 2009 | Piper PA-30 | Port Mansfield, Texas, United States | Harvey W. Kiniken, Jr | Fatal | 2 |