Gowan LONG-EZ N86RG

Summary

On 3 May 1997 at about 15:03 local time, a Gowan LONG-EZ registered N86RG was involved in an accident near Roanoke, Texas, 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

3 May 1997 at 15:03

Classification

Accident

Location

Roanoke, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Northwest Regional (52F)

Coordinates

33.0002, -97.2296

Aircraft

Gowan LONG-EZ

Registration

N86RG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW97FA173

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain the proper descent rate. A factor was the gascolator's filter screen becoming contaminated with fiber glass residue due to the pilot/mechanic's inadequate maintenance.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Approximately 100 feet AGL, after retracting the landing gear, the pilot noticed the fuel pressure was zero. About two to three seconds later the engine lost power, and he reduced the throttle in an attempt to regain fuel pressure. He maintained a 'nose high attitude for a continuous flare' so he wouldn't 'hit the ground' with a high airspeed. He then attempted to lower the landing gear; however, the aircraft landed hard before the landing gear was fully extended. The aircraft bounced across a road and fence, and came to a stop in a field. Examination of the gascolator revealed that it was one quarter full of a gray matter, which was identified by the pilot/builder as fiber glass. About 10 hours prior to the accident, the pilot made a modification to the main landing gear wheel wells. The aircraft has wet wing fuel tanks. The pilot flushed the fuel tanks three times; however, he 'did not shake the wings,' and he thinks that the fuel tank baffling retained some of the fiber glass material. He had not checked the gascolator since making the modification.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.