Incident Details
While cruising at an altitude of 12,000 feet MSL, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot subsequently conducted a forced landing on a field in Greenville, Virginia.
Investigation
An on-scene investigation revealed that the fuel injector line between the fuel manifold and the number 6 cylinder fuel nozzle had broken. A metallurgical study determined that the separation of the fuel line was due to metal fatigue.
Regulatory Action
The safety board issued Recommendation A-29-10 to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on March 2, 1992, proposing that an airworthiness directive (AD) be published to address fuel line failures. In response, the FAA issued AD 92-12-10 on June 5, 1992. The directive required a visual inspection within 10 flight hours of each fuel injector fuel line, checking for missing support clamps or support clamps that were not secure and not properly supporting the fuel line. The accident airplane had not yet accumulated 10 flight hours since the adoption of the AD.