What happened
On the afternoon of April 9, 2000, a privately operated Rutan Long Ez, registration F-PYNO, was conducting a cruise flight near Lille Lesquin. While flying at an altitude of 800 feet, approximately five minutes from the destination, the pilot noticed a significant loss of engine power.
In an attempt to restore power, the pilot activated the carburetor heat and the electric fuel pump. The engine returned to normal operating RPM after approximately one minute of flight. However, after the pilot deactivated the carburetor heat while keeping the electric pump running, the engine failed a second time roughly 30 seconds later. Unable to maintain flight, the pilot performed a forced landing in a field approximately 50 meters short of the threshold of runway 08. The aircraft sustained slight damage during the landing.
The investigation
Following the incident, investigators conducted a ground run of the engine, which demonstrated correct operational performance. The investigation focused on the aircraft's fuel system, specifically the brass strainer located at the carburetor inlet.
Upon inspection of the carburetor, investigators discovered a significant amount of sediment settled at the bottom of the carburetor bowl, near the jet pickup orifice. This residue appeared to be composed of material similar to that used in the construction of the aircraft's fuel tank.