The pilot reported that during a local pleasure flight in the Protech PT2, a light-sport aircraft, the engine lost all power while in cruise flight about 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL).
He attempted to restart the engine by checking the throttle, mixture, carburetor heat, and switching on the other fuel tank. He also attempted to use the engine primer to restart the engine. All attempts were not successful, and he prepared for an off-airport landing near Columbia, Mississippi.
He told investigators that while there was a clearing farther along his flight path, he did not have enough altitude to reach it and elected to land on a gravel road.
During the landing approach he saw a powerline and maneuvered to avoid it, but then hit a pine tree.
The airplane came to rest in a nose-down attitude among the trees and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot was not injured in the crash.
A post-accident examination was conducted of the engine and fuel system.
The engine examination revealed no anomalies.
The airplane’s fuel system consisted of one fuel tank in each wing connected by rubber hoses to a fuel selector, which led to a gascolator, and finally to the engine.
At the time of the examination the wings had been removed from the airplane and were not available for examination, however the fuel system plumbing was present in the fuselage. The rubber fuel hoses from the wing tanks had automotive fuel filters installed. Removal of the filters revealed significant restriction of the fuel filters when attempting to blow through them.
The most recent maintenance record entry for the required condition inspection made no mention of replacement or checking of the fuel filters.
The pilot/owner reported that he did not know when the fuel filters were last checked or changed and that they may have been on the airplane for about 20 years.
The recorded temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were in the range for serious carburetor icing at glide power.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s lack of proper maintenance, which allowed the fuel filters to become obstructed, leading to fuel starvation and a subsequent engine power loss.
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This April 2023 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
This was Columbia, Mississippi not Missouri.
Eric, You are right and I apologize for the error. It’s been fixed. Janice Wood
ELSA or SLSA, there’s an approved maintenance plan. Wonder what it says?
Significant and blocked are two different things. That both filters would block at the same time is highly doubtful. Just because something is exactly right doesn’t make it the problem.
Carb ice theory much more likely, or an ignition switch failure, which apparently wasn’t inspected.
This guy builds the aircraft kit, but doesn’t do the necessary maintenance on it.?
And, who puts fuel filters on aircraft fuel systems ? The gascolator does the filtering without restrictions, and is easily serviced/ sumped.
More stupid pilots and unnecessary insurance claims.!
My guess, no insurance for airframe damage, just liability for tree repair?