Rutan RUTAN LONG EZ N7169L

Summary

On 5 March 1994 at about 20:10 local time, a Rutan RUTAN LONG EZ registered N7169L was involved in an accident near Kill Devil Hill, North Carolina, 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

5 March 1994 at 20:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Kill Devil Hill, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

36.0097, -75.6594

Aircraft

Rutan RUTAN LONG EZ

Registration

N7169L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Chesapeake

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL94LA058

1 person had minor injuries.

WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY SUMP THE FUEL SYSTEM DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE FLEW THE AIRPLANE TO NORFOLK AND PARKED IT ON THE RAMP FOR SEVERAL DAYS. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT DEPARTED NORFOLK WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR ON THE LEFT TANK. UPON REACHING HIS TURN AROUND POINT, THE PILOT DRAINED THE FUEL SUMPS, AND PLACED THE FUEL SELECTOR ON THE RIGHT TANK. A QUANTITY OF WATER WAS RECOVERED FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM WHEN THE FUEL SUMPS WERE DRAINED, BUT HE COULD NOT RECALL HOW MUCH WAS RECOVERED FROM THE SYSTEM. AFTER THE PILOT COMPLETED A RUN- UP, THE FLIGHT DEPARTED. AT 350 FEET MSL, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER; A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE A FEW OUNCES OF WATER WERE RECOVERED FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM. DURING THE NORMAL PREFLIGHT, THE FUEL SYSTEM MUST BE CHECKED FOR CONTAMINATES WITH THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE IN THE LOWERED POSITION. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL CAP WOULD NOT SEAL AND HAD A HISTORY OF COLLECTING WATER IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY OTHER FINDINS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.