PLT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL SKYBOLT BIPLANE MADE AN OFF ARPT FORCED LNDG AFTER THE ENG QUIT AND WOULD NOT START. LNDG WAS MADE ON AN INTERSTATE HWY WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. ENG QUIT BECAUSE OF FUEL STARVATION WHEN THE MAIN FUEL LINE TO ENG FUEL INJECTOR PUMP.
Synopsis
PLT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL SKYBOLT BIPLANE MADE AN OFF ARPT FORCED LNDG AFTER THE ENG QUIT AND WOULD NOT START. LNDG WAS MADE ON AN INTERSTATE HWY WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. ENG QUIT BECAUSE OF FUEL STARVATION WHEN THE MAIN FUEL LINE TO ENG FUEL INJECTOR PUMP.
Narrative
ON SEP/THU/97; WHILE FLYING SKYBOLT; THE ACFT EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ENG PWR. I ACCOMPLISHED THE EMER PROCS AND DETERMINED WHERE TO MAKE AN EMER LNDG. THE OPTIONS WERE LIMITED DUE TO MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN THE VICINITY. FORTUNATELY; THERE WAS A GAP IN THE TFC ON I-70; THE MOST SAFE AND VIABLE OPTION. I NOTIFIED BJC TWR OF MY LOCATION AND INTENTIONS. WITHIN MINS I HAD SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMPLISHED A SAFE LNDG ON THE HWY; WITHOUT DAMAGE TO THE ACFT AND NO INJURIES INVOLVED. I SECURED THE AIRPLANE BY TURNING OFF ALL THE SWITCHES; THEN PUSHED IT OFF THE TARMAC; HOPING TO MINIMIZE THE DISRUPTION TO THE FLOW OF TFC. AFTER MOVING THE SKYBOLT TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION; IT WAS INSPECTED BY A MECH. HE DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL LINE SUPPLYING THE INJECTOR SYS HAD FAILED. THUS; CAUSING THE ENG TO LOSE PWR; CREATING THE FORCED LNDG. THE FAILED FUEL LINE IS BEING REPLACED WITH 3000 MIL SPEC HOSE. HOPEFULLY; REDUCING THE ODDS OF THE LINE FROM FAILING AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. THE MECH ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT ALL FITTINGS BE MADE OF STEEL.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.