Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
San Saba County Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
San Saba, Texas 76877
Saturday, August 4, 2012 10:30 CDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The pilot reported that the experimental, amateur-built airplane was in cruise climb when he noticed a gradual loss of fuel pressure, so he diverted to a nearby airport. The engine fuel pressure continued to drop, and the engine then lost total power. The airplane landed hard on the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the composite wing structure and breached both wing fuel tanks. An examination of the engine revealed no defects or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. An examination of the steel-braided flexible fuel lines removed from the electric fuel boost pump showed that two of the lines were installed twisted and that one of the lines was kinked and installed with a bend radius tighter than specified. The improper installation of the fuel lines caused a permanent set in the steel braid and a subsequent partial collapse of the inner wall of the fuel lines, which resulted in the partial blockage of fuel flow through the line and a subsequent loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The improper installation of flexible fuel lines, which resulted in a partial collapse of the inner wall of the fuel lines and a subsequent a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 8/4/2012 |
| Event Day of the Week | Saturday |
| Time of Event | 1030 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Daylight Time |
| Event City | San Saba |
| Event State | TEXAS |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 76877 |
| Event Date Year | 2012 |
| Event Date Month | 8 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 311404N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0984301W |
| Event Location Airport | San Saba County Muni Airport |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | 81R |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | On Airport |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 0 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 1249 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1035 Central Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 167 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | KAQO |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 1101 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 27 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CDT |
| 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) | 31 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 19 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 190 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 10 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 15 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.01 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | KAQO 041535Z AUTO 19010G15KT 10SM CLR 31/19 A3001 |
| 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 | 4 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | -- |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 33046 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA ASW Regl Opns Center - FTW |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Aug 26 2014 2:46PM |
| User who most recently changed record | latt |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N603JS |
| NTSB Number | CEN12FA561 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | IFR |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | Yes |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | SAVAGE AIR LLC |
| Aircraft Model | EPIC LT |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 015 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 7300 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | Yes |
| Flight Crew Seats | 2 |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | 4 |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 6 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Retractable |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Conditional |
| Date of Last Inspection | May 18 2012 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | 536 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | Unknown |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | C126 |
| Aircraft Owner Name | SAVAGE AIR LLC |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 10900 LAUREL CREEK DR |
| Aircraft Owner City | AUSTIN |
| Aircraft Owner State | TX |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 78726-1912 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | SAVAGE AIR LLC |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | 10900 LAUREL CREEK DR |
| Operator City | AUSTIN |
| Operator State | TX |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 78726-1912 |
| 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 | No |
| Departure Airport Code | RYW |
| Departure City | Lago Vista |
| Departure State | TX |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1005 |
| Departure Time Zone | CDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | APA |
| Destination City | Denver |
| Destination State | CO |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Aug 26 2014 2:47PM |
| User who most recently changed record | latt |
| Since inspection or accident | Last Inspection |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 13 |
| Runway Length | 3800 |
| Runway Width | 60 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |