Midland International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Midland, Texas 79701
Sunday, October 6, 2002 16:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane struck power lines during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during the takeoff/initial climb. The pilot reported that the engine lost power to flight idle then regained power momentarily; however, the engine would not gain enough torque to sustain flight. Examination revealed that the "B" nut was "finger" loose on the line going from the bleed air filter to the fuel control unit. According to the manufacturer's representative, the recommended torque specification was 80 inch-pounds for the "B" nut, and the engine "condition described [by the pilot] could be caused by a leak in the bleed air system." During the last conditional inspection, the fuel control unit was removed for overhaul and reinstalled, and the fuel control unit and all filters were checked. The mechanic, who performed the conditional inspection, stated that during his removal and reinstallation of the fuel control unit, he removed the fuel and bleed air lines at the fuel control unit. The airplane had flown approximately 5 hours since the conditional inspection. Numerous attempts to obtain the completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) were unsuccessful.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power resulting from a loose "B" nut on the line going from the bleed air filter to the fuel control unit. Also causal was the inadequate maintenence of the fuel control unit and filters during the last conditional inspection.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/6/2002
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Midland
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79701
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 315633N
Event Location Longitude 1021207W
Event Location Airport Midland International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MAF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.25
Degrees magnetic from airport 160
Airport Elevation 2871
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1613 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 340
Weather Observation Facility ID MAF
Elevation of weather observation facility 2871
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.03
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 13999
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Oct 6 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 30 2003 9:55AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Lubbock, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2069W
NTSB Number FTW03LA006
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SIAI-Marchetti
Aircraft Model L1019
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number NC 057
Certified Max Gross Weight 2600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Jul 19 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 1680
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name John C. Lister
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1234 99th Street
Aircraft Owner City San Antonio
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78214
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Air Race/Show
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MAF
Departure City Midland
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1610
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2003 6:11PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34R
Runway Length 4339
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --