Kelly KOLB MARK III N62691

Summary

On 17 September 1998 at about 18:20 local time, a Kelly KOLB MARK III registered N62691 was involved in an accident near Cashmere, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 September 1998 at 18:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Cashmere, Washington, United States

Coordinates

47.5497, -120.4804

Aircraft

Kelly KOLB MARK III

Registration

N62691

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cashmere → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA98LA181

1 person was seriously injured.

Fuel starvation caused by the partial blockage of the fuel pump chambers as a result of the misalignment of the fuel pump front cover by the pilot/builder. Factors include trees in the area in which the pilot attempted the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While approximately 1,800 feet above the ground (AGL), during a full-power climb, the aircraft's engine lost power and the propeller stopped turning. The pilot, who was over a town at the time of the power loss, attempted a forced landing in an open field, but the airplane struck a tree during the flare/touchdown. It was later discovered that the front cover on the engine-driven fuel pump was out of alignment by 60 degrees, resulting in a restriction to fuel flow through the pump. The pilot, who was not aware of the alignment marks on the surface of the pump, said that he had disassembled and reassembled the pump while trying to fit it in the aircraft during the construction process.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.