Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cincinnati, Ohio 45230
Monday, July 23, 1990 19:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER TAKEOFF, AT APRX 300 FT AGL, THE ENGINE LOSS POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE INTO A RACE TRACK PARKING LOT, AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK WOODEN FENCES AND A TREE LINE. THE ENGINE HAD A HISTORY OF RUNNING HOT. A NYLON FITTING IN THE MAIN FUEL LINE WAS FOUND TO BE CROSS THREADED, AND TEFLON TAPE HAD BEEN USED AS A SEAL AROUND THE THREADS. THE NYLON FITTING WAS LOOSE, AND THE SEAL DETERIORATED WHICH ALLOWED AIR TO BE SUCKED INTO THE LINE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A POWER LOSS DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A FUEL LINE FITTING AND INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/23/1990
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CINCINNATI
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 45230
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 7
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 483
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1933 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID LUK
Elevation of weather observation facility 483
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 2
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 4
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1652
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 23 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2205
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42984
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N45DR
NTSB Number NYC90FA169
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 DAVID B. ROBERTSON
Aircraft Model VARI-EZE
Aircraft Series Identifier VARI-EZE
Aircraft Serial Number 614
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name UNKNOWN
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DAVID B. ROBERTSON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2442 ROYAL VIEW CT.
Operator City CINCINNATI
Operator State OH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 45244
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 1925
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --