Rans S-17 N6171R

Summary

On 4 May 2013 at about 18:09 local time, a Rans S-17 registered N6171R was involved in an accident near Fontana, California, 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.

Date

4 May 2013 at 18:09

Classification

Accident

Location

Fontana, California, United States

Nearest airport

Brackett Field (KPOC)

Coordinates

34.1547, -117.4567

Aircraft

Rans S-17

Registration

N6171R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Brian Ranch → La Verne

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR13LA216

1 person had minor injuries.

A loss of engine power due to improper construction and inadequate maintenance of the fuel system and engine. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s inadvertent contact with an unseen guy wire during the landing flare.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was planning to purchase the experimental, light sport airplane from a colleague and was relocating it to his home airport about 40 miles away. He departed, climbed the airplane to 5,500 ft, and flew uneventfully until he was about 20 miles from his destination, at which point, the engine began to lose power, and the airplane began to lose altitude. Despite the pilot's troubleshooting and corrective-action efforts, the engine rpm continued to decrease, and the pilot selected an off-airport landing location on an open construction site. Just before touchdown, the airplane struck an unseen guy wire, and the airplane then descended vertically to the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed multiple fuel system and engine-related deficiencies that were indicative of both improper construction and inadequate maintenance. Although the specific reason for the engine power loss could not be determined, the observed deficiencies, either alone or in combination, could have caused the power loss.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.