Europa-List: N81EU incident - the culprit

[Thomas Scherer <thomas@scherer.com>]

Hi All,

today I can report with confidence that the reason for the power loss in 
N81EU on Feb 24 was fuel starvation.

I had changed the fuel filter on the main-line the day before the 
incident and as you can see on this photograph:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tosstudio/644899802/"; 
title="Photo Sharing"><img 
src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1252/644899802_5320589274.jpg"; 
width="500" height="367" alt="culprit" /></a>

the fuel line was worn (10 year old factory supplied original). One 
strand of the tube did get into the fuel filter inlet and restricted 
fuel flow.

I had sufficient fuel in the line for the take-off roll, yet during the 
early part of the climb-out the engine quit.

~~~~~~~~

I shall later report on the moments right after that and the sequence of 
the forced landing. Would like to discuss it with Kim Prout though first 
to make it more authoritative.

be well - safe Landings

<Thomas, N81EU>