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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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February 14, 1982 · Porterfield CP-65 · N37768

Jacksonville, NC

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 14, 1982
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Jacksonville, NC
Aircraft
Porterfield CP-65
Tail Number
N37768
Operator
Jas Simpson
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL82FLJ04

Witnesses heard the engine sputter after takeoff as the aircraft was in a steep climb. The aircraft was then observed to turn sharply left, enter a nose down attitude, and crash. About 1/2 teaspoon of rusty water was found in the main fuel strainer and the fuel screen contained rust. About 1/2 ounce of contaminated water was found in the carburetor bowl. The aircraft had been refueled the week prior to the accident at Albert Ellis Airport where the FBO had been out of fuel the previous 45 days on 5 or 6 different occasions. Two other aircraft also reported receiving contaminated fuel from the FBO. The fuel filters on the fuel truck and at the fuel farm were out of date. The day the aircraft was refueled, the fuel truck took on a load of fuel at the farm at the same time a fuel tanker truck was off-loading fuel into the farm. The aircraft fuselage tank does not have a quick drain. The engine performed normally during a subsequent operational check.

Full Narrative

WITNESSES HEARD THE ENG SPUTTER AFTER TAKEOFF AS THE ACFT WAS IN A STEEP CLIMB. THE ACFT WAS THEN OBSERVED TO TURN SHARPLY LEFT, ENTER A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE & CRASH. ABOUT 1/2 TEASPOON OF RUSTY WATER WAS FOUND IN THE MAIN FUEL STRAINER & THE FUEL SCREEN CONTAINED RUST. ABOUT 1/2 OUNCE OF CONTAMINATED WATER WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL. THE ACFT HAD BEEN REFUELED THE WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AT ALBERT ELLIS ARPT WHERE THE FBO HAD BEEN OUT OF FUEL THE PREVIOUS 45 DAYS ON 5 OR 6 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. TWO OTHER ACFT ALSO REPORTED RECEIVING CONTAMINATED FUEL FROM THE FBO. THE FUEL FILTERS ON THE FUEL TRUCK & AT THE FUEL FARM WERE OUT OF DATE. THE DAY THE ACFT WAS REFUELED, THE FUEL TRUCK TOOK ON A LOAD OF FUEL AT THE FARM AT THE SAME TIME A FUEL TANKER TRUCK WAS OFF-LOADING FUEL INTO THE FARM. THE ACFT FUSELAGE TANKDOES NOT HAVE A QUICK DRAIN. THE ENG PERFORMED NORMALLY DURING A SUBSEQUENT OPERATIONAL CHECK.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:11 EST
Nearest AirportPiney Green (0nm N)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPorterfield CP-65
Tail NumberN37768
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJas Simpson
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · A-75 · Reciprocating · 75
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 23 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 10 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point14 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data