Accident
On July 22, 2013, about 1400 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Quicksilver MXL, N2590B, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a pasture in Lexington, Tennessee. The student pilot, who was also the builder of the aircraft, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight, which originated at the same pasture and was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Pilot Information
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot, age 43 at the time of the accident, held a student pilot certificate and a third-class medical certificate issued in July 2009, valid through July 2014. He reported a total flight time of 10 hours, with 1 hour in the previous 30 days, all in the accident airplane make and model. No evidence of a flight instructor endorsement for the flight was provided.
Aircraft Information
FAA records indicated that the airplane was last registered in November 2007. The pilot stated that the aircraft had 10 hours of total operating time at the time of the accident and that its last inspection occurred in January 2008. The pilot did not indicate when or if the fuel system had ever been flushed or the fuel filter changed.
Event Sequence
According to the student pilot, he took off from the pasture and shortly thereafter the engine quit. He headed the airplane back toward the pasture, but "it fell short." The student pilot's wife stated that after the engine quit, the airplane "dropped like a rock."
Investigation Findings
A photograph provided by the responding FAA inspector showed impacted soil and fore-to-aft crushing in the vicinity of the left seat rudder pedals. The student pilot later reported that dirty fuel had plugged the fuel filter. He said he used 93-octane, no-ethanol fuel purchased from a local gas station and transported in "approved" containers. When asked about the source of the dirt, he explained, "Best I can think of is dust from filling or draining over time."
The student pilot did not provide evidence of any flight instructor endorsement for the flight.