Aero Vodochody L-39ZA N343WT

Summary

On 2 May 2023 at about 21:10 local time, a Aero Vodochody L-39ZA registered N343WT, operated by Phantom Phlyers LLC, was involved in an accident near Barnhart, Texas, United States. 2 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.

Date

2 May 2023 at 21:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Barnhart, Texas, United States

Coordinates

31.3607, -101.1720

Aircraft

Aero Vodochody L-39ZA

Registration

N343WT

Category

Airplane

Year built

1986

Engines

1

Operator

Phantom Phlyers LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Angelo → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR23LA183

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power due to water-contaminated fuel from an undetermined source.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that after taking off and climbing through about 7,300 ft mean sea level (msl), he heard a “pop” noise. He scanned the engine instruments and saw them “rolling back.” The pilot pitched the airplane for best glide and attempted to restart the engine, which was unsuccessful. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot performed a forced landing to a dirt road in a field, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that he had flown to the departure airport the day before the accident, had the airplane refueled with 342 gallons of fuel, and had the airplane secured in a hangar before taking off for the accident flight. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe that would have contributed to a loss of engine power. Fuel recovered from the airplane fuel sump after the accident was tested for contaminants. Water was detected in that fuel sample at a rate of 55 parts per million (ppm), which is considered an acceptable level. However, recovery personnel stated that when the airplane was de-fueled during the recovery process, the ½ gallon capacity fuel-water separator filter clogged and filled with water 3 times. The recovery personnel further stated the airplane had not been rained on after the accident and before recovery. Fuel was tested from the source where the airplane was refueled before the accident flight and water was detected at less than 15 ppm and no fuel related issues were reported by the operators of the other aircraft refueled from the same source. Fuel is capable of absorbing water directly from the atmosphere via the ventilation system of the fuel system/storage tank or through condensation in the tank. However, investigators were not able to verify if that occurred. The circumstances of the accident, coupled with the finding of undissolved water in the fuel during the recovery of the airplane, is consistent with a total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. However, the source of the water in the fuel could not be determined based on available evidence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.