Santa Fe County Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
Saturday, October 20, 2007 11:10 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, the engine start, taxi, and engine run-up prior to takeoff were normal, without issues, or anomalies. The airplane departed from runway 28. After raising the landing gear, the pilot noted that the engine rpms were dropping through 2,100 rpm. The pilot communicated with the air traffic control tower, performed a 90 degree turn to the left to avoid terrain and obstacles, and performed a forced landing to rough, uneven terrain. During the landing the nosegear assembly and the right main landing gear separated. The airplane rotated 90 degrees to the right, slid, and came to rest on the right wing, resulting in substantial damage. An examination of the engine revealed no anomalies. The fuel selector valve was removed for further examination and testing. The valve exhibited fuel staining on the main tank inlet and fuel line fitting. The gascolator exhibited fuel staining on the top left side of the casting and on the bottom at the fuel sump location. During the vacuum test the valve bled down more than 10 inches in one minute. The gascolater was compromised and leaked severely. Leaks in the fuel selector valve and gascolator can allow air into the fuel system and result in the loss of engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A leak in the fuel selector valve and gascolator that resulted in fuel starvation during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was a lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/20/2007
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1110
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Santa Fe
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87505
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 353701N
Event Location Longitude 1060502W
Event Location Airport SANTA FE COUNTY MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SAF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 6348
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID KSAF
Elevation of weather observation facility 6348
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
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) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
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 --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23692
NTSB Notification Source FAA ASW ROC
NTSB Notification Date Oct 20 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 28 2008 12:03PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Albuquerque FAA Flight Standards District Office

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5104K
NTSB Number DEN08LA015
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Ryan
Aircraft Model Navion
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number NAV-4-2004
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3503
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name On File
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City Santa Fe
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 87505
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KSAF
Departure City Santa Fe
Departure State NM
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1110
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 0E0
Destination City MORIARTY
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 May 27 2008 4:08PM
User who most recently changed record BOWL
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --