Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clay Township, Pennsylvania 16061
Thursday, March 30, 2006 12:56 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Approximately 5 minutes after takeoff, at an altitude of 800 feet agl, the engine rpm went from 2,000 to idle. The pilot applied full throttle and rich mixture; however, the engine remained at idle. He subsequently turned the electric fuel pump on. The engine then lost all power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the approach, the pilot was able to restart the engine once, but it lost all power again. Examination of the wreckage revealed that there was adequate fuel in the fuselage fuel tank, fuel in the fuel line from the airframe to the engine driven fuel pump, and fuel in the fuel line from the engine driven fuel pump to the fuel manifold valve. Subsequent testing of the electric fuel pump on a test stand revealed that it was undamaged and flowed within specifications. A test run of the engine revealed that it experienced a normal start on the first attempt, without hesitation. The engine ran for approximately 30 minutes at different power settings, including idle to full power. In addition, the engine driven fuel pump was found to be intact, and flowed within specifications when placed on a test stand. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were identified during the examinations.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power during cruise flight for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a forced landing and subsequent impact with trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/30/2006
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1256
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Clay Township
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 16061
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 405109N
Event Location Longitude 0795829W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1255 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID BTP
Elevation of weather observation facility 1248
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
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) 30.26
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 --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21501
NTSB Notification Source FAA EROC
NTSB Notification Date Mar 30 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 29 2007 12:24PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Allegheny, PA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N346DC
NTSB Number NYC06LA086
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 Diamond Aircraft Industries
Aircraft Model DA 20-C1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number CO349
Certified Max Gross Weight 1660
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours 8
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Blue Sky Aviation Inc
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1001 Sycolin Road , Suite 6
Aircraft Owner City Leesburg
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20175
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 3G9
Departure City Butler
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1250
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GKJ
Destination City Meadville
Destination State PA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 17 2007 11:18PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --