Private Strip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Toa Baja
Saturday, August 3, 1996 10:40 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that before takeoff, he performed a preflight inspection of the home built airplane and made an engine run-up, but no discrepancies were noted. After takeoff, about 200 feet above ground level, the engine rpm dropped (uncommanded) from 6,300 to 2,000, and the pilot was unable to restore power. He initiated an emergency descent for a forced landing. As the pilot was maneuvering to avoid an obstruction, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. An investigation revealed that the airplane's fuel tank had no provision for quick draining of fuel during a preflight inspection to check for contaminants. A sample of fuel was taken by disconnecting the fuel line to the carburetor, and water contamination was found. Also, water was found in the carburetor.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

water contamination in the fuel system, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. Factors relating to the accident were: the lack of a quick draining feature in the fuel system, the pilot's failure (or inability) to detect water contamination in the fuel system during preflight inspection, and high obstruction(s) in the emergency landing area.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/3/1996
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1040
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City TOA BAJA
Event State PUERTO RICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 00759
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PRIVATE STRIP
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 25
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1055 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID SJU
Elevation of weather observation facility 10
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2200
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1236
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 3 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1835
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:17AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N113JM
NTSB Number MIA96LA201
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HERNANDEZ CHALLENGER
Aircraft Model SPECIAL II
Aircraft Series Identifier SPECIAL II
Aircraft Serial Number CH-1292 CW09
Certified Max Gross Weight 850
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 Nov 15 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 95
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOSE A. MARTINEZ
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 113
Aircraft Owner City AGUAS BUENAS
Aircraft Owner State PR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 00703
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RAFAEL R. MENA
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BRAZIL C-6 GARDENVILLE
Operator City GUAYNABO
Operator State PR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 00966
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 1040
Departure Time Zone AST
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 4
Runway Length 900
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --