Burlington Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Burlington, Iowa 52601
Friday, July 7, 1995 12:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The damaged airplane was found at a location that correlated with a right downwind for runway 18. There were indications that it had collided with trees during a forced landing, then impacted the ground. Initial impact was with a 30 foot tree. Investigation did not be determined how long the airplane had been airborne before the accident. There was no damage to the propeller. The fuel tank had ruptured during impact. The engine and flight controls had continuity. Inspection revealed that the copper fuel line from the carburetor to the strainer was broken at the carburetor ferrule fitting, in an area immediately adjacent to a ferrule nut. Examination of the fracture surface revealed fine crack arrest markings, indicative of fatigue. The fatigue cracking originated on the outside surface of the tube.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

fatigue failure of a copper fuel line at the carburetor ferrule fitting, which resulted in fuel starvation. The proximity of trees was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/7/1995
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BURLINGTON
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 52601
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BURLINGTON MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BRL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 210
Airport Elevation 698
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1150 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID BRL
Elevation of weather observation facility 911
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2098
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 7 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1625
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N412LF
NTSB Number CHI95LA211
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 FIRST STRIKE
Aircraft Model BOBCAT
Aircraft Series Identifier BOBCAT
Aircraft Serial Number 412
Certified Max Gross Weight 670
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 21 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 4
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FLOYD E. LEWIS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2116 SOUTH 12TH ST
Aircraft Owner City BURLINGTON
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 52601
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
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 18
Runway Length 6702
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --