An aeronautical commander on takeoff climb at 400 ft declared an emergency and diverted due to the right engine loss of power. Caused by a failed fuel line fitting.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	609067
Time
Date	200402
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Commander 500
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 5300 flight time type : 2
ASRS Report	609067
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : installation performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Just after takeoff at 400 ft, we experienced a right engine failure. We returned with the right engine feathered. After landing, a fire truck notified us that there was fuel pouring out the right engine, so we had them follow us to the ramp. Maintenance discovered that there was a fuel line connected to the engine with a brass fitting. The brass fitting had been sheared in half. These engines were new. Only 40 hours with all new hoses and fittings. It was determined that the fitting was installed wrong, and that it had come in contact with a steel part of the generator, which caused the brass fitting to fail. The other engine was checked and appeared to be installed correctly. The engine installation was performed by the aircraft manufacturer. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the engines and the engine fuel line fittings had only 40 hours operating time since new. The reporter said the installation of the fuel fitting was incorrect as it was in direct contact with the generator and vibration caused the brass fitting to fail.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN AERO COMMANDER ON TKOF CLB AT 400 FT DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED DUE TO THE R ENG LOSS OF PWR. CAUSED BY A FAILED FUEL LINE FITTING.

Narrative: JUST AFTER TKOF AT 400 FT, WE EXPERIENCED A R ENG FAILURE. WE RETURNED WITH THE R ENG FEATHERED. AFTER LNDG, A FIRE TRUCK NOTIFIED US THAT THERE WAS FUEL POURING OUT THE R ENG, SO WE HAD THEM FOLLOW US TO THE RAMP. MAINT DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LINE CONNECTED TO THE ENG WITH A BRASS FITTING. THE BRASS FITTING HAD BEEN SHEARED IN HALF. THESE ENGS WERE NEW. ONLY 40 HRS WITH ALL NEW HOSES AND FITTINGS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FITTING WAS INSTALLED WRONG, AND THAT IT HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH A STEEL PART OF THE GENERATOR, WHICH CAUSED THE BRASS FITTING TO FAIL. THE OTHER ENG WAS CHKED AND APPEARED TO BE INSTALLED CORRECTLY. THE ENG INSTALLATION WAS PERFORMED BY THE ACFT MANUFACTURER. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE ENGS AND THE ENG FUEL LINE FITTINGS HAD ONLY 40 HRS OPERATING TIME SINCE NEW. THE RPTR SAID THE INSTALLATION OF THE FUEL FITTING WAS INCORRECT AS IT WAS IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE GENERATOR AND VIBRATION CAUSED THE BRASS FITTING TO FAIL.

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.