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Pilot of an experimental skybolt biplane made an off airport forced landing after the engine quit and would not start. Landing was made on an interstate highway with no damage to the aircraft. Engine quit because of fuel starvation when the main fuel line to engine fuel injector pump.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 381772 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199709 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : bjc |
| State Reference | CO |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 2000 agl bound upper : 2000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : bjc |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Experimental |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | other other : other pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 25 |
| ASRS Report | 381772 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : local |
| Qualification | other other : other |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : declared emergency other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
On sep/thu/97, while flying skybolt, the aircraft experienced loss of engine power. I accomplished the emergency procedures and determined where to make an emergency landing. The options were limited due to mountainous terrain in the vicinity. Fortunately, there was a gap in the traffic on I-70, the most safe and viable option. I notified bjc tower of my location and intentions. Within mins I had successfully accomplished a safe landing on the highway, without damage to the aircraft and no injuries involved. I secured the airplane by turning off all the switches, then pushed it off the tarmac, hoping to minimize the disruption to the flow of traffic. After moving the skybolt to a different location, it was inspected by a mechanic. He determined that the fuel line supplying the injector system had failed. Thus, causing the engine to lose power, creating the forced landing. The failed fuel line is being replaced with 3000 military specification hose. Hopefully, reducing the odds of the line from failing again in the future. The mechanic also recommended that all fittings be made of steel.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL SKYBOLT BIPLANE MADE AN OFF ARPT FORCED LNDG AFTER THE ENG QUIT AND WOULD NOT START. LNDG WAS MADE ON AN INTERSTATE HWY WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. ENG QUIT BECAUSE OF FUEL STARVATION WHEN THE MAIN FUEL LINE TO ENG FUEL INJECTOR PUMP.
Narrative: ON SEP/THU/97, WHILE FLYING SKYBOLT, THE ACFT EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ENG PWR. I ACCOMPLISHED THE EMER PROCS AND DETERMINED WHERE TO MAKE AN EMER LNDG. THE OPTIONS WERE LIMITED DUE TO MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN THE VICINITY. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS A GAP IN THE TFC ON I-70, THE MOST SAFE AND VIABLE OPTION. I NOTIFIED BJC TWR OF MY LOCATION AND INTENTIONS. WITHIN MINS I HAD SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMPLISHED A SAFE LNDG ON THE HWY, WITHOUT DAMAGE TO THE ACFT AND NO INJURIES INVOLVED. I SECURED THE AIRPLANE BY TURNING OFF ALL THE SWITCHES, THEN PUSHED IT OFF THE TARMAC, HOPING TO MINIMIZE THE DISRUPTION TO THE FLOW OF TFC. AFTER MOVING THE SKYBOLT TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION, IT WAS INSPECTED BY A MECH. HE DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL LINE SUPPLYING THE INJECTOR SYS HAD FAILED. THUS, CAUSING THE ENG TO LOSE PWR, CREATING THE FORCED LNDG. THE FAILED FUEL LINE IS BEING REPLACED WITH 3000 MIL SPEC HOSE. HOPEFULLY, REDUCING THE ODDS OF THE LINE FROM FAILING AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. THE MECH ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT ALL FITTINGS BE MADE OF STEEL.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.