BENTON CITY, WA, USA
N47AT
ALLEN D. POTTS WAG-A-BOND
WHILE DESCENDING TO THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A DIRT ROAD; HOWEVER, DUE TO STRONG WINDS AT THE SURFACE, THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED OFF THE ROAD AND LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ON THE SOFT DIRT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE ENGINE, BUT THAT HE SUSPECTED FUEL STARVATION THAT RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
On August 21, 1994, at 0905 Pacific daylight time, a homebuilt Allen D. Potts Wag-A-Bond, N47AT, nosed over during the landing roll on an open field after the engine experienced a loss of power, five miles south of Benton City, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot received minor injuries. The pilot rated passenger was not injured. The flight had departed from Vancouver, Washington, on August 21, 1994, at 0800, as a personal flight. The pilot reported that during the descent for landing to Kennewick, Washington, the engine experienced a loss of power. The airplane was unable to make it to the airport and the pilot elected to initiate a forced landing, to the south, on a dirt road. During the approach, a strong wind from the west was present. The pilot was unable to remain aligned with the road and the airplane touched down in a plowed field next to the road. During the landing roll in soft dirt, the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the engine, however, during a telephone interview the pilot stated that he suspected fuel starvation that resulted in the loss of engine power. The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Renton, Washington, Flight Standards District Office, reported that several gallons of fuel vented from the wing when the airplane was turned right-side-up. The pilot reported to the Inspector that one hour and fifteen minutes of fuel remained in the system at the time of the accident.
FUEL STARVATION AND INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS SOFT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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