Rans S 5 N481TJ
23 May 2016 · Lodi, California, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 23 May 2016 at about 16:45 local time, a Rans S 5 registered N481TJ was involved in an accident near Lodi, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 16:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lodi, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Lodi (1O3)
- Coordinates
- 38.1300, -121.1700
- Aircraft
- Rans S 5
- Registration
- N481TJ
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2007
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Lodi → Lodi
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR16LA122
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 the result of a pinched fuel line. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s maneuvering just before landing, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The student pilot reported that, during cruise flight in the experimental light sport airplane, he encountered moderate turbulence. Shortly thereafter, the engine experienced a total loss of power. Following an uneventful landing in an open field, the pilot found that a fuel line was pinched between his seat and the fuselage. After repositioning the fuel line, he was able to start the engine and took off to return to the airport. While in the airport traffic pattern, his seat shifted, and the engine lost power a second time. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a nearby road; however, just before touchdown, the pilot "banked hard left" to avoid hitting a vehicle on the road. The airplane subsequently experienced an aerodynamic stall and impacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel line located behind the pilot's seat could be compressed by hand. Movement of the seat allowed for the fuel line to be pinched, resulting in an interruption of fuel flow to the engine. After installing a new propeller, a test run of the engine was completed with no anomalies observed.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Oct 2016 | Joe Salomone SUPER CUB SQ2 | Boca Reservoir, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Dec 2016 | Cessna T210M | Mecca, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 25 Aug 2016 | Siai-Marchetti SF260 | Fullerton, California, United States | Air Combat, USA | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Dec 2016 | Bombardier CL 600 2B19 | San Francisco, California, United States | Skywest Airlines Inc | Unknown | - |
| 24 Aug 2016 | Cessna 182 | Fallbrook, California, United States | Civil Air Patrol Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 2016 | Cessna 172 | San Diego, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |