The pilot of an experimental aircraft experienced engine failure and landed on a county road.

Attributes
ACN	700733
Time
Date	200606
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Experimental
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 1200 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	700733
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

I was practicing aerobatic maneuvers approximately 4 mi northwest of airport. After flying approximately 20 mins; the engine began to lose power. I still had power at what felt like slightly above idle for about 30 seconds. I tried to make it to airport; but then the engine completely quit. When it became evident that I would not make the runway; I set up to land on a county road as there were no cars on it. The landing went well; and there was no damage to my plane; no damage to property; and no injury to me or others. 3 people helped push my plane the 1/2 - 1 mi back to airport. A mechanic determined that my fuel servo filter screen was completely clogged. After cleaning the screen; the engine ran fine. I took off 2 days later to test the engine; and everything went fine. I have received mixed views on whether I received contaminated fuel or if there was a slow buildup. I have learned that when cleaning the screen; the traditional method of rinsing it with fuel or solvent then using air to blow out the contamination didn't do a very good job with such a fine screen.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE PLT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL ACFT EXPERIENCED ENG FAILURE AND LANDED ON A COUNTY ROAD.

Narrative: I WAS PRACTICING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS APPROX 4 MI NW OF ARPT. AFTER FLYING APPROX 20 MINS; THE ENG BEGAN TO LOSE PWR. I STILL HAD PWR AT WHAT FELT LIKE SLIGHTLY ABOVE IDLE FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. I TRIED TO MAKE IT TO ARPT; BUT THEN THE ENG COMPLETELY QUIT. WHEN IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT I WOULD NOT MAKE THE RWY; I SET UP TO LAND ON A COUNTY ROAD AS THERE WERE NO CARS ON IT. THE LNDG WENT WELL; AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO MY PLANE; NO DAMAGE TO PROPERTY; AND NO INJURY TO ME OR OTHERS. 3 PEOPLE HELPED PUSH MY PLANE THE 1/2 - 1 MI BACK TO ARPT. A MECH DETERMINED THAT MY FUEL SERVO FILTER SCREEN WAS COMPLETELY CLOGGED. AFTER CLEANING THE SCREEN; THE ENG RAN FINE. I TOOK OFF 2 DAYS LATER TO TEST THE ENG; AND EVERYTHING WENT FINE. I HAVE RECEIVED MIXED VIEWS ON WHETHER I RECEIVED CONTAMINATED FUEL OR IF THERE WAS A SLOW BUILDUP. I HAVE LEARNED THAT WHEN CLEANING THE SCREEN; THE TRADITIONAL METHOD OF RINSING IT WITH FUEL OR SOLVENT THEN USING AIR TO BLOW OUT THE CONTAMINATION DIDN'T DO A VERY GOOD JOB WITH SUCH A FINE SCREEN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.