Beck Michael J SONEX N920MB

Summary

On 16 January 2024 at about 19:30 local time, a Beck Michael J SONEX registered N920MB was involved in an accident near Auburn, Washington, United States. One person was 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

16 January 2024 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Auburn, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Auburn Municipal Airport (S50)

Coordinates

47.3427, -122.2224

Aircraft

Beck Michael J SONEX

Registration

N920MB

Category

Airplane

Year built

2013

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Auburn → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR24LA074

Nobody was injured.

Water contamination within the fuel regulator air-reference system, which resulted in improper fuel metering and a loss of engine power during initial climb.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane experienced a partial and then total loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. The pilot performed a forced landing onto a road, where the airplane collided with a signpost and sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination revealed no mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe fuel delivery system that would have precluded normal operation. However, water was found within the throttle body injector air-reference line and regulator diaphragm. This contamination likely led to inadequate fuel regulation, resulting in the power fluctuations observed by the pilot and eventual power loss. The investigation could not determine how water entered the system.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.