Keahole-Kona International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
Friday, May 30, 2003 9:07 HST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Following a loss of engine power during takeoff, the private pilot attempted to make a 180-degree turn to land on the taxiway. Half-way through the turn, the airplane touched down at the end of the taxiway, and slid across lava rocks. Examination of the engine revealed that the fuel filter was clogged with soft material that looked like sand. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies noted with the airplane or engine prior to takeoff.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A clogged fuel filter, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power during takeoff-initial climb.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/30/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 907
Event Time Zone Hawaii Standard Time
Event City Kailua-Kona
Event State HAWAII
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 96740
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 194419N
Event Location Longitude 1560244W
Event Location Airport KEAHOLE-KONA INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KOA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 853 Hawaii Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID KOA
Elevation of weather observation facility 40
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation HDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16938
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 30 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1230
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2004 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-HNL-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N794WD
NTSB Number LAX03LA171
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Denis
Aircraft Model Cozy
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 22
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 24 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 152.5
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name William and Bronwyn Denis
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Holualoa Kona
Aircraft Owner State HI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 96725
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name John Totah
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Kealakekua
Operator State HI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 96750
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KOA
Departure City Kailua-Kona
Departure State HI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 905
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KOA
Destination City Kailua-Kona
Destination State HI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 27 2004 11:51AM
User who most recently changed record LABJ
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --