NEPHI, UT, USA
N123EK
EKINS PROTECH PT2C PROSTAR
A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED FOLLOWING A TOUCH AND GO LANDING. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING, REPORTING POOR BRAKING ON THE WET TERRAIN. THE MAIN LANDING GEAR SEPARATED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER WHEN IT ROLLED THROUGH A CONCRETE DRAINAGE CULVERT. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION BY AN FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED FUEL CONTAMINATION.
On August 12, 1993, at approximately 1125 hours mountain daylight time (MDT), an Ekins & Larsen Protech PT2C Prostar, N123EK, registered to and operated by the owners, and being flown by John D. Brown, a commercially certificated pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing and subsequent collision with a fence following a total loss of power immediately after takeoff from runway 16 at the Nephi Municipal Airport, Nephi, Utah. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was a personal early stage test flight, was to have been operated in accordance with the requirements set forth in 14CFR91, and originated from the Nephi Airport at approximately 1005 hours with approximately 30 gallons of 100 low lead fuel. The pilot reported that at approximately 300 feet above ground, following a touch and go landing, the engine abruptly stopped operating. The pilot executed a 90 degree right turn to execute a forced landing onto plowed farmland. The pilot reported that "the field had recently been irrigated and the clay soil was extremely slippery" and that "braking was very poor." During the landing roll the aircraft impacted a wood fence and associated log posts, nosing over when the main landing gear separated as it rolled through a concrete drainage culvert. FAA Inspector Douglas Hanson examined the aircraft subsequent to the accident and reported "extensive fuel contamination in the fuel tank, fuel lines and filters." Additionally, he reported "plastic shavings from the plastic fuel tank in the fuel" and "water and other contaminants in the fuel" (refer to attached FAA Accident Investigation Record).
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE WET LANDING SURFACE AND TERRAIN CONDITION - DITCH.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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