Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Santa Rosa, California 95403
Saturday, April 20, 2013 10:27 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While joining up in formation flight with a second airplane, the pilot reduced engine power to slow his airplane. When he subsequently tried to increase the engine power, he noticed no response from the engine. The pilot stated that the engine was still running; however, the adjustment of the throttle control and the electric fuel boost pump did not alter the engine's power setting. The pilot performed a forced landing to a vineyard, and the airplane nosed over during the landing roll. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the main fuel system screen contained a fuzzy, spongy material along with other debris. The throttle body screen also contained small debris particles. Debris was also found in fuel that was removed from the lower fuel tank. It is likely that the debris within the fuel system restricted fuel flow to the engine and limited the power output. The source of the debris was undetermined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The partial loss of engine power due to fuel contamination and partially blocked fuel screens.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/20/2013
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1027
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Santa Rosa
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95403
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 383032N
Event Location Longitude 1224846W
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 1053 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID STS
Elevation of weather observation facility 128
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
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) 30.08
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KSTS 201753Z 02005KT 10SM CLR 21/05 A3008 RM
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) 31446
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 14 2013 4:54PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N985SS
NTSB Number WPR13LA212
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BOEING
Aircraft Model A75N1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 75-3431
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
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 Feb 1 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 9582
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name BELL PATRICK C
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City NOVATO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94945-3429
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name BELL PATRICK C
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City NOVATO
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 94945-3429
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 No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Petaluma
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Petaluma
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 14 2013 4:54PM
User who most recently changed record stam
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 --