DRIGGERS QUILLAN E TITAN TORNADO
Mechanicsville, VA — November 29, 2017
Event Information
| Date | November 29, 2017 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA18CA035 |
| Event ID | 20171130X10310 |
| Location | Mechanicsville, VA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 37.70806, -77.30028 |
| Airport | WOODS FARM AIRSTRIP |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | DRIGGERS QUILLAN E |
| Model | TITAN TORNADO |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and failure to detect water contamination in the fuel system, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power on takeoff.
Full Narrative
The airplane's engine lost partial power after takeoff and the pilot/owner performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane nosed over during the landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and vertical stabilizer. The pilot subsequently disassembled and inspected the airplane following the accident and reported that he had found water in the fuel tank, which explained the partial loss of engine power.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.