Farrell James Airfield Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Enochville, North Carolina 28081
Saturday, July 24, 2010 12:32 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff the engine lost power. He performed a forced landing into a wooded area and the airplane came to rest inverted. Examination of the fuel system found water in the fuel line between the engine driven fuel pump, the carburetor, and the fuel strainer. With the exception of the water in the fuel, no additional evidence of any other preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction was found. Had the pilot checked the fuel before flight, he likely would have noted the presence of water and should have drained it.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Loss of engine power due to fuel contamination, and the pilot’s inadequate preflight of the fuel system.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/24/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1232
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Enochville
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28081
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 353126N
Event Location Longitude 0803907W
Event Location Airport Farrell James Airfield
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 800
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1240 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID RUQ
Elevation of weather observation facility 772
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
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) 30.1
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) 29148
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2011 4:35PM
User who most recently changed record andj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N601CX
NTSB Number ERA10LA374
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 MULLOY CHARLES
Aircraft Model ZODIAC 601XL
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 6-4842
Certified Max Gross Weight 1320
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Mar 10 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 42
Airframe Hours 194
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name BAKER JEFFREY L
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1072 CODDLE CREEK RD
Aircraft Owner City MOORESVILLE
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28115-7789
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Paul Norman Baker
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Mooresville
Operator State NC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 28115
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 PVT
Departure City Enochville
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PVT
Destination City Kannapolis
Destination State NC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2011 4:35PM
User who most recently changed record andj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --