Glines SPORTSMAN GS-2 N546SG

Summary

On 7 August 2010 at about 19:30 local time, a Glines SPORTSMAN GS-2 registered N546SG, operated by Everett S. Glines, was involved in an accident near Morrisville, Vermont, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 August 2010 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Morrisville, Vermont, United States

Nearest airport

Morrisville Stowe State (MVL)

Coordinates

44.5344, -72.6139

Aircraft

Glines SPORTSMAN GS-2

Registration

N546SG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Everett S. Glines

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Morrisville → Millbrook

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10LA405

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper flare during a forced landing. Contributing to the accident was a loss of fuel pressure for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane stated that while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the annunciator system made several audible warnings stating "check fuel pressure." He noted that the fuel pressure gauge indicated low to no fuel pressure. He cycled the boost pump from the "on" position to the "off" position several times, with no effect on the fuel pressure reading. The mixture, propeller, and throttle controls appeared to be in their respective normal climb positions, but the pilot noted a decrease in engine rpm and manifold pressure. He also noticed that the rpm and manifold pressure were continuing to decline and that the engine was continuing to lose power while the annunciator continued to sound the same warning. The pilot returned to the departure airport and initiated a flare. The airplane touched down hard on the runway and veered to the left. Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane would not respond to rudder or brake inputs and departed off the left side of the runway, nosing over inverted. Postaccident examination of the airframe, engine assembly and accessories did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunction. An engine test run and flow check was conducted with no anomalies noted. Data retrieved from the airplane's multi-function display confirmed the erratic fuel flow during the accident flight; however, the anomaly could not be duplicated during postaccident testing. The reason for the loss of fuel pressure could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.