Accident Overview
On January 13, 2021, at approximately 1319 eastern standard time, an Extra Flugzeubau GMBH EA300L, registration N771JP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pell City, Alabama. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Pilot's Account
The pilot stated that before departure, the aircraft carried 14 gallons of fuel in the main wing tanks and 12 gallons in the center fuel tank. He checked the fuel quantity in the left tank using a calibrated fuel stick, measuring 7 gallons. He estimated that the right tank similarly held 7 gallons, but did not measure it directly because the fuel gauge was located in the left tank. After approximately 10 minutes of flight, while on approach to the airport at an altitude of about 1,500 feet above ground level, the engine lost all power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine using fuel from the center tank; when that failed, he switched back to the main tanks, but the engine would not restart. He then executed a forced landing, during which the left wing struck trees and terrain.
Postaccident Examination
Examination at the accident site revealed the aircraft resting upright and level in a field. Structural damage was noted to the wings and fuselage. No fuel odor or spillage was observed. The center fuel tank was full, while the wing tanks contained only trace amounts of fuel. The left wing leading edge had punctures approximately 3 and 7 feet outboard of the fuselage. The calibrated fuel stick reportedly used by the pilot was not found at the site or the recovery facility.
The engine was examined in detail and found to be free of anomalies. Manual rotation produced thumb compression on all cylinders. Small amounts of fuel were present at the engine-driven fuel pump inlet and the fuel servo inlet. The fuel injector inlet screen was clean and unobstructed. Traces of fuel—two to three drops—were found in the line from the fuel injector to the fuel flow gauge, and similarly in the line from the fuel flow gauge to the fuel manifold. The center tank had been drained by recovery personnel before examination. After fuel was added to the center tank, the engine started and ran smoothly and continuously.
Additional Information
In a letter to the NTSB submitted after the investigation, the pilot indicated awareness of a potential issue with the Extra EA300L's fuel pickup tubes. According to his mechanic, it is possible that during maintenance the fuel pickup tube could rotate upward, preventing usable fuel from entering the line. However, only trace fuel was found in the wing tanks, and no maintenance records were provided to indicate when the pickup line might have been incorrectly positioned.
Data from the aircraft's engine monitoring device, stored on an SD memory card, were downloaded and analyzed by the NTSB's Vehicle Recorder Division. The total flight duration was 16 minutes. During the final minutes, fuel flow dropped to zero for about 30 seconds, then briefly increased before the data ended.
The Extra 300L Pilot's Operating Handbook emergency procedures for engine power loss in flight specify that the pilot should maintain 80 knots indicated airspeed, set the fuel shutoff valve to CENTER & ACRO, mixture to RICH, boost pump ON, and ignition switch to BOTH. The pilot reported attempting restart procedures.