Zengel RV-4 N371FZ

Summary

On 21 May 1989 at about 18:00 local time, a Zengel RV-4 registered N371FZ was involved in an accident near Columbia, Illinois, 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

21 May 1989 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Columbia, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Columbia (H-49)

Coordinates

38.4499, -90.2204

Aircraft

Zengel RV-4

Registration

N371FZ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Columbia → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI89DCA01

1 person had minor injuries.

THE IMPROPER ROUTING OF ENGINE FUEL LINES RESULTING IN OVER TEMPERATURE OF THE LINES WHICH RESULTED IN THE FUEL FLOW TO CARBURETOR TO FLUCTUATE AND CAUSE OVER RICH CONDITION AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE ACFT EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFT OFF. THE PLT LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD ON THE SAME RUNWAY BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN THE DISTANCE REMAINING. THE ACFT NOSED OVER AFTER STRIKING A DITCH LOCATED AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE FUEL LINES HAD BEEN LOOSELY WRAPPED WITH FIRESLEEVE AND HAD BEEN ROUTED ADJACENT TO AN EXHAUST PIPE. GROUND RUNNING THE ENG FOR APRX ONE HR AFTER THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN FUEL PRESSURE FLUCTUATIONS, HIGH OIL TEMP, AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ACCOMPANIED BY HEAVY BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPES. THE BOOST PUMP SEEMED TO HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE PROBLEM.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.