Accident Overview
On September 8, 2013, at approximately 1750 central daylight time, a Sweet Bushby Mustang II airplane, registration N54WS, impacted terrain during a forced landing near Woodstock, Illinois. The commercial pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight, sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing.
Flight Details
The flight departed Council Bluffs, Iowa, at about 1630, destined for Grayslake, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Sequence of Events
According to local authorities who spoke with the pilot, while at an altitude of 2,200 feet above ground level, the engine began to lose partial power. The pilot attempted to regain engine power by switching the fuel selector to the auxiliary or header tank; however, the engine subsequently lost total power. The pilot executed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane impacted vegetation and came to rest upright.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the right wing fuel tank was empty, the left wing fuel tank contained some fuel, and the auxiliary or header fuel tank was full. The inspector removed the fuel line from the fuel manifold and activated the fuel pump, which resulted in fuel flow from the fuel line. The airplane was recovered for further examination.
Engine Functional Test
Under the supervision of an FAA inspector, the engine was functionally tested on the airframe using the auxiliary fuel tank. During the test, the engine started and operated without any anomalies noted.