Accident Summary
On August 7, 2012, at approximately 0830 mountain daylight time, a kit-built Glasair III airplane, registration N71AJ, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Westcliffe, Colorado. The private pilot was seriously injured. The aircraft was owned and operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, which was conducted without a flight plan.
Aircraft and Operator
The aircraft was a kit-built Glasair III, registered to a private individual. The flight was part of a 40-hour test flight program, with the accident flight being the first flight of that program. The airplane had a remote oil filter adapter with a spin-on filter mounting pad.
Flight Details
The local test flight originated from Silver West Airport (C08) in Westcliffe, Colorado, about 0810. The pilot climbed to an altitude of 12,000 feet. During the climb, the pilot observed an increase in oil temperature, followed by a loss of oil pressure. Subsequently, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot executed a forced landing to a field, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage.
Post-accident Examination
Examination of the engine revealed that a gasket between the remote oil filter adapter and the spin-on filter mounting pad had failed, leading to a loss of oil. The owner reported that the gasket was lubricated with a compound upon installation. However, it could not be determined whether the compound degraded the gasket.