Accident Details
On October 3, 2023, at about 1800 eastern daylight time, a Champion 7FC, registration N4878E, was substantially damaged during an accident near Hawkinsville, Georgia. The commercial pilot and a passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that he was en route to Eastman, Georgia. Approximately halfway through the flight, he noticed a partial loss of engine power. He checked the instruments and attempted to regain full power but was unsuccessful. He decided to make an emergency landing in a field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a stump and nosed over, causing substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.
Postaccident Examination
During the postaccident examination, the engine was prepared for a test run. Fuel staining was discovered inside the engine cowling. An attempt to start the engine revealed a leaking fuel line to the carburetor. The fuel line was found to be brittle and leaking from the braided outer casing. After replacing the faulty fuel line, the engine started and ran continuously without any issues.
Maintenance History
Review of the maintenance logbooks found no entries indicating replacement of the fuel line. The last inspection entry in the airframe logbook was an annual inspection dated April 4, 2023, which noted an inspection of the wing fuel tanks and plumbing. The fuel line did not fall under the Life Limited Part designation of 14 CFR Part 43.10, as it was not a part with a mandatory replacement limit specified in the type design.