Primary finding
Probable cause
The overtorque of a safety wire on a plastic fuel line, causing the line to split.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
About 45 seconds after takeoff, the airplane's engine lost total power. The pilot made a forced landing, and during the approach, the airplane impacted a tree. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that a plastic fuel line had been safety wired and the wire was over torqued, causing the fuel line to split. There was evidence that during initial climb from take off, air entered the fuel line, starving the engine of fuel. The pilot was operating the airplane under 14 CFR part 103 as an ultralight and did not hold any FAA certificates. The post accident investigation revealed the aircraft weighed over the weight limitation of 254 pounds as imposed by 14 CFR part 103; therefore, it was designated an airplane.
Source record
Factual narrative
-