According to the pilot, the Team Mini-Max 1600R’s engine lost total power during initial climb after departing from a campground area in Marshall, Michigan. The pilot made a forced landing into a cornfield, which damaged both wing struts.
During the flight prior to the accident, the pilot noticed engine roughness that discontinued after he turned the fuel pump on. He inspected the plane after landing but was not able to find a rationale for the engine roughness.
Following the accident, examination of the engine revealed that the fuel supply line to the inlet fitting of the vacuum driven fuel pump was loose on the fitting. Although the clamp on the inlet fitting had been tightened to its maximum clamping position, the fuel supply line was still loose on the fitting and without a proper seal it was possible for air to enter the fuel system.
Probable Cause: Maintenance personnel’s improper installation of an improperly sized clamp on the fuel supply line, which allowed air to enter the supply line, a subsequent loss of engine power, and a forced landing.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This June 2020 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Hoses with clamps is never a good idea! Spend the extra money buy a hose designed for the fluid it will service. Use the proper size end fitting that screws on to the hose.. There are numerous choices that work in the surrounding environment they will operate in. How much is your life worth???
The fuel pump has a nipple on it for the hose. There is no option for a screw on fitting/hose here. Standard Rotax vacuum fuel pump. It is shown in the docket link at the end of the article.
This didn’t just come out of maintenance. The hose had probably hardened with time and lost sealing ability. Whoever last tightened the clamp should have replaced the hose and the operator failed to locate the issue before further flight already knowing it was a fuel problem.
Totally agree Robert, over 50+ years I’ve seen so many incidents/accidents to airplanes that have just had maintenance completed. Some of the errors have been impossible to spot till after the event, obviously stay extra vigilant after these – just read a report where a new registration was applied which covered both static ports – only spotted during the takeoff when the ASI was seriously misreading.
Aircraft owners and pilots need to be mindful that maintenance Errors create significant hazard and must act accordingly the most likely time for an aircraft to suffer mechanical problem is on the first flight after maintenance be thoroughly Skeptical anytime Aircraft comes out of the shop your preflight and post flight maintenance test flight or last line of defense against maintenance errors.