Redd Tom QUICKSILVER GT 400 N4031Q

Summary

On 19 November 2012 at about 14:30 local time, a Redd Tom QUICKSILVER GT 400 registered N4031Q, operated by Randy Capers, was involved in an accident near Oak Grove, Louisiana, 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

19 November 2012 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Oak Grove, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

32.5089, -92.8439

Aircraft

Redd Tom QUICKSILVER GT 400

Registration

N4031Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Randy Capers

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oak Grove → Oak Grove

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13LA063

1 person died.

The total loss of engine power, the specific cause of which could not be identified during the postaccident examination, and the airplane’s subsequent impact with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had recently purchased the light-sport airplane and was on his first flight in the airplane. A witness reported seeing the airplane disappear from sight; the engine sound stopped, and immediately heard a crash. Examination revealed that the airplane collided with a tree, before impacting the ground in a nose down, left wing low attitude. Additionally, the examination revealed the airplane was equipped with a ballistic parachute system; however, the safety pin was found still installed in the parachute's firing handle. The airplane was equipped with an electric fuel pump installed in series with the engine's fuel pump. The engine manufacturer's manual states the following: "If the fuel tank is considerably lower than the engine, an electric pump should be used; this pump is to be connected in parallel as in case of series-connection the fuel pressure would be excessive." The fuel pump installed on the engine was identified as one typically used on two stroke engines. The engine technician noted that this style pump does not have the bleed holes in it, and without these bleed holes, this style pump may hydro lock. The in-line fuel filter installed was a paper type filter and appeared dirty with contaminates in it. Additionally, the installation manual states the following: "A suitable fuel filter of 0.15 mm mesh size must be fitted between pump and carburetor. Do not use paper filters." Although, the examination noted these abnormalities, a specific reason for the loss of engine power was not identified; however, it is likely that one or more of these abnormalities resulted in the engine's loss of power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.