Nanchang China CJ 6 N8NW

Summary

On 9 October 2017 at about 23:16 local time, a Nanchang China CJ 6 registered N8NW was involved in an accident near Buckeye, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 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

9 October 2017 at 23:16

Classification

Accident

Location

Buckeye, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

33.6589, -112.6370

Aircraft

Nanchang China CJ 6

Registration

N8NW

Category

Airplane

Year built

1992

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Las Vegas → Goodyear

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR18LA006

1 person was seriously injured.

The failure of the fuel pump’s diaphragm which resulted in fuel system contamination from air and or oil and caused the engine to lose power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger onboard the experimental airplane were descending toward the destination at the conclusion of a cross-county flight when the engine rpm began to vary and the engine eventually lost power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a clearing at a nearby construction site, during which the left wing impacted an obstacle, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the fuel pump’s diaphragm, located on the drive shaft, was ruptured. The diaphragm was designed to prevent fuel system contamination. Remnants of the diaphragm were observed on the accessory side of the pump and the diaphragm was located inward from its original position on the drive shaft. It is likely that this ruptured diaphragm caused the fuel system to be contaminated with air and or oil and resulted in the loss of power to the engine. No other mechanical anomalies were revealed that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.