Clovis Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clovis, New Mexico 88135
Tuesady, October 11, 2005 8:52 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane impacted terrain while attempting to return to the runway following a loss of engine power in the takeoff initial climb. The pilot/owner reported that he had sumped the fuel system prior to the flight. After the accident, the pilot sumped the fuel tanks and found water. The pilot found that the placement of the fuel drain did not facilitate the removal of water from the wing tanks.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel system. The inadequate placement of the fuel system drain by the builder was a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/11/2005
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 852
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Clovis
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88135
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 342530N
Event Location Longitude 1030445W
Event Location Airport CLOVIS MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CVN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 735 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID CVN
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
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) 30.12
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19036
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Oct 11 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 31 2006 7:35AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office MC FSDO Lubbock

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N835RA
NTSB Number LAX06CA007
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name APPEL
Aircraft Model RDA 04
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 82835
Certified Max Gross Weight 610
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Mar 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 242
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name William G. Ashley
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Clovis
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name William G. Ashley
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Clovis
Operator State NM
Operator Country USA
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code CVN
Departure City CLOVIS
Departure State NM
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code CVN
Destination City CLOVIS
Destination State NM
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 4 2005 4:52PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 022
Runway Length 6200
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --