Plane Crash List

Savage Air EPIC LT N603JS

4 August 2012 · San Saba, Texas, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 4 August 2012 at about 15:30 local time, a Savage Air EPIC LT registered N603JS, operated by Savage Air LLC, was involved in an accident near San Saba, Texas, United States. 4 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.

The record

Date
at 15:30
Classification
Accident
Location
San Saba, Texas, United States
Nearest airport
San Saba County Muni Airport (81R)
Coordinates
31.2344, -98.7169
Aircraft
Savage Air EPIC LT
Registration
N603JS
Category
Airplane
Year built
2007
Engines
1
Operator
Savage Air LLC
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Lago Vista → Denver
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
CEN12FA561

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
4 0 0 0 4

Probable cause

The improper installation of flexible fuel lines, which resulted in a partial collapse of the inner wall of the fuel lines and a subsequent 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 reported that the experimental, amateur-built airplane was in cruise climb when he noticed a gradual loss of fuel pressure, so he diverted to a nearby airport. The engine fuel pressure continued to drop, and the engine then lost total power. The airplane landed hard on the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the composite wing structure and breached both wing fuel tanks. An examination of the engine revealed no defects or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. An examination of the steel-braided flexible fuel lines removed from the electric fuel boost pump showed that two of the lines were installed twisted and that one of the lines was kinked and installed with a bend radius tighter than specified. The improper installation of the fuel lines caused a permanent set in the steel braid and a subsequent partial collapse of the inner wall of the fuel lines, which resulted in the partial blockage of fuel flow through the line and a subsequent loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

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All 170,864 records in United States