Fuel Exhaustion & Starvation · NTSB NYC08LA224
Aero Vodochody Aero. Works L-29 Delfin — Millville, NJ
| Date | June 22, 2008 |
| Location | Millville, NJ |
| Aircraft | Aero Vodochody Aero. Works L-29 Delfin |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Prior to flight Preflight or dispatch event |
| Pilot age | 67 |
| Pilot total time | 20,000 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 2 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Inspection-Preflight inspection-Pilot - C
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Maintenance-Scheduled/routine maintenance-Owner/builder
- Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Fuel system-Fuel filter-strainer-Damaged/degraded - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Fuel system-Fuel filter-strainer-Inadequate inspection - C
What happened
While climbing after takeoff, the former Czech military jet trainer experienced a total loss of engine power and struck pine trees in a wooded area about 1 mile southwest of the airport. Subsequent examination of the airplane's fuel system revealed fuel that drained from the fuel filter was contaminated with black sediment, and appeared "extremely cloudy." Additionally, the fuel filter element was contaminated and restricted the flow of fuel to the engine. The pilot purchased the airplane about 1 year prior to the accident. The maintenance records were not located. The pilot fueled the airplane from a tank on the back of a pickup truck. Review of fuel receipts revealed that the day prior to the accident, the pilot purchased about 138 gallons of "kerosene," 6 gallons of "off road diesel," and 27 gallons of "diesel" fuel. Review of a preflight inspection checklist for the airplane revealed that it included discharging "2 liters" of fuel from the fuel filter drain to check for contamination.