Australite AEROBAT FPP1 N117BT

Summary

On 18 May 1991 at about 20:19 local time, a Australite AEROBAT FPP1 registered N117BT, operated by Australite, Inc., was involved in an accident near Odessa, Texas, 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

18 May 1991 at 20:19

Classification

Accident

Location

Odessa, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Odessa-Schlemeyer (E02)

Coordinates

31.8000, -102.4710

Aircraft

Australite AEROBAT FPP1

Registration

N117BT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Australite, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW91LA083

Nobody was injured.

FUEL STARVATION AS A RESULT OF A CRACKED FUEL LINE INSIDE THE FUEL CELL. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A PRIVATE PILOT WAS RETURNING TO LAND AFTER COMPLETING A PUBLIC AEROBATICS DEMONSTRATION AT AN AIR SHOW. WHILE ON BASE LEG, A POWER LOSS OCCURRED. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE RUNWAY, SO HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE ON HIS PRESENT HEADING AND LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD COVERED WITH SMALL MESQUITE TREES. A SUCCESSFUL LANDING WAS MADE, BUT WHILE ON THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED SEVERAL SMALL TREES. THE TAILBOOM BROKE TWO FEET BEHIND THE PROPELLER ARC LINE. THE FRONT CANOPY PLEXIGLASS WAS ALSO BROKEN. THE FUEL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE WAS CAUSED BY A CRACKED QUARTER INCH ALUMINUM FUEL LINE INSIDE THE FUEL CELL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.