Accident Overview
On October 3, 2016, at approximately 1800 central daylight time, a Fokker DR-1 airplane, registration N83WR, suffered a loss of engine power shortly after departing from Covey Trails Airport (X09) in Fulshear, Texas. The pilot, who held an airline transport pilot certificate, executed a forced landing into a tree nursery located about one mile from the airport. The pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the spars of all three right wings.
The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a test flight. Visual meteorological conditions were present, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual.
Pre-Flight Events
The owner had recently completed construction of the airplane, and the accident flight was its first test flight. The owner asked the accident pilot to perform the test. Before the flight, the owner secured the airplane to a fixed object and conducted a full-power engine run, which revealed no anomalies. Subsequently, eight high-speed taxi runs were performed. Minor oil leaks from the rocker box covers were observed and resolved by replacing gaskets.
Engine Power Loss and Forced Landing
After departing from X09, the pilot experienced a partial loss of engine power during the initial climb. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude, prompting the forced landing. The impact damaged the spars on all three right wings.
Engine and Fuel System Examination
The Rotec R3600 engine (the source uses "Rotex R3600") was received new with zero hours on March 31, 2016, and had accumulated approximately four hours of test runs before the accident flight. A postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuel filter and gascolator were free of contaminants, and the engine appeared unremarkable. The fuel pressure regulator and throttle body injector were disassembled and no anomalies were found. However, the mechanical fuel pump housing screws were slightly loose, and the fuel screen was not seated properly.
Engine Manufacturer's Statement
The engine manufacturer noted that their products are experimental and that there is no standard installation for the engine, only guidelines. This leaves the owner free to experiment with the engine and fuel system installation.