Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fort Lupton, Colorado 80621
Sunday, June 19, 1994 11:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND A FORCED LANDING WAS CONDUCTED. DURING THE APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINES. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE PROVIDED EVIDENCE OF OIL SUMP CONTAMINATION IN THE FORM OF A PAPER TOWEL APPEARING ITEM. THIS PLUGGED THE OIL PICK UP AND CAUSED OIL STARVATION. EVIDENCE INDICATES THE PIECE OF PAPER TOWEL APPEARING MATERIAL MAY HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED INTO THE ENGINE DURING MAINTENANCE TO A CYLINDER A SHORT TIME PRIOR TO THE TRIP ORIGINATING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

BLOCKAGE OF THE OIL SCAVENGE PUMP BY FOREIGN MATERIAL WHICH WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE ENGINE DURING MAINTENANCE. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/19/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City FORT LUPTON
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80621
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1145 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID BJC
Elevation of weather observation facility 5657
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 100
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 8000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 544
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 19 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1239
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N111DR
NTSB Number FTW94LA202
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name RILEY, DONALD
Aircraft Model RUTAN VARIEZE
Aircraft Series Identifier RUTAN VARI
Aircraft Serial Number 1481
Certified Max Gross Weight 1050
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RILEY, DONALD K.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4015 NW 5TH AVE.
Aircraft Owner City BOCA RATON
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33431
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OJC
Departure City OLATHE
Departure State KS
Departure Country
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 2V2
Destination City LONGMONT
Destination State CO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --