OTTAWA, OH, USA
N2091
STULP STARDUSTER SA 300
THE PILOT CLIMBED TO 1500 FEET AFTER TAKEOFF, WHEN HE NOTICED THE FUEL PRESSURE DECREASE. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE DID NOT LOSE TOTAL POWER, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH POWER TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING INTO A CORN FIELD. THE FAA INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT, FINDING THE GASCOLATOR FUEL SCREEN WAS RUST COVERED AND THE FUEL DOWNSTREAM OF THE GASCOLATOR WAS 'CLOUDY AND FLOW WAS RESTRICTED'.
On August 7, 1994 about 1430 eastern daylight time, N2091, a Stulp, Starduster Too SA300 experimental airplane, lost engine power, and initiated a forced landing in Ottawa, Ohio. Visual meteorological conditions existed. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The departure point was Putnum County Airport in Ottawa. The local flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the FAA, the pilot was at 1000 feet AGL when he noticed the fuel pressure began to decrease and the engine began to lose power. Although the engine did not lose total power, there was not enough power to maintain flight. The pilot stated "Lost fuel pressure then RPM's, set up for an emergency landing. I headed into the wind west to land. I saw what looked like a good place to set down but I was dropping to fast in over a river. I was worried about power lines, I had a little power in the engine, so I picked a second (landing) spot. (The aircraft) started losing power, and air speed so had to take the cornfield before the airplane would stall out." The aircraft came to rest nosedown in a cornfield. The FAA examined the airplane and revealed the gascolator fuel screen was rust corroded and the fuel downstream of the gascolator was "cloudy" and the flow was restricted. According to the pilot the accident could have been prevented by not using fuel from a dirty, unfiltered personal fuel tank.
inadequate maintenance which resulted in a corroded gascolator fuel screen restriction fuel flow and resulted in fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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