https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/ ... 193026/pdf
Registration History
Date Owner Location
18-Sep-2023 ENSLEY ETHAN GRAVITTE WINTER PARK FL
02-Jun-2006 SHEEHAN KEVIN A WINTER SPRINGS FL
Pilot hours: 473 hours (Total, all aircraft), 9 hours (Total, this make and model), 369 hours (Pilot in Command, all aircraft), 9 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 7 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
On September 5, 2023, about 1942 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Van’s RV-8, N772KS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Umatilla, Florida. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot reported that, on the flight before the accident flight, he departed from Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB), Orlando, Florida, where the airplane was based, for a destination of Umatilla Municipal Airport (X23), Umatilla, Florida, where he planned to refuel the airplane. He reported that the engine “burped” when he reduced power on initial climb but otherwise functioned normally for the duration of the flight. After landing at X23 and refueling the airplane fully, he completed the engine start checklist and noted that nothing was abnormal. The pilot did not complete an engine run-up before takeoff. On initial climb, about 150 ft above ground level, with takeoff power applied, the engine began to “sputter and cough” before sustaining a total loss of power. The pilot reported that he pushed the control stick forward to maintain airspeed, switched fuel tanks from right to left, and checked to make sure the boost pump was on. He noticed that there was no runway remaining and aimed at a large, grassy yard across a lake, which was just past the departure end of the runway. He was not able to glide to the yard and impacted the lake. A video recorded by a witness on the ground captured audio of the engine briefly reducing power and backfiring shortly after the airplane became airborne.
Post accident examination of the wreckage found substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. Photographs taken of the airplane just after being recovered from the lake showed the throttle, mixture, and propeller controls in the full forward position. They also showed the fuel selector was on the left fuel tank and the boost pump switch was in the ON position. An examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector found the No. 3 cylinder spark plugs were severely corroded, and the lower spark plug in the cylinder smelled of fuel and oil. Compression and suction were observed on all cylinders when the propeller was rotated through 720° of motion. The fuel selector was found to be operational, and continuity of the fuel system was confirmed from the fuel tanks through the fuel selector to the electric fuel boost pump. The rigid fuel line from the electric fuel boost pump to the fuel sump was found fractured and detached from the pump immediately beyond the attaching b nut. The pump mounting bracket and some of the fuselage structure surrounding the bracket were fractured and buckled. The electric fuel boost pump operated normally when electrical current was applied to the leads.
Photographs from the FAA inspector of the electric fuel boost pump indicated it was not installed on the airplane according to the kit manufacturer’s build plans. It was located on the fuselage wall forward of the forward landing gear bulkhead, whereas in the build plans it was located on a bracket on the floor of the fuselage, forward of the forward landing gear bulkhead.
A review of fuel records showed the pilot purchased 16.423 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel at X23 and the pilot reported having 40 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel aboard at departure. A review of maintenance records showed a condition inspection was completed on July 24, 2023.
