Summary
On April 03, 1996, a Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3 (N45043) was involved in an incident near Chandler, AZ. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The failure of both the engine driven and hand wobble fuel pumps, which resulted in fuel starvation to the engine.
On April 3, 1996, at 1030 hours mountain standard time, an antique Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, N45043, nosed over during a forced landing near Chandler, Arizona. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power during cruise. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot and the one passenger onboard were not injured. The flight originated from Chandler on the day of the accident at 1020 as a local area personal flight.
The pilot reported that he was in cruise when the fuel pressure went to zero. He attempted to restore the fuel pressure by using a hand wobble pump but was unsuccessful.
This incident is documented in NTSB report LAX96LA153. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N45043.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The failure of both the engine driven and hand wobble fuel pumps, which resulted in fuel starvation to the engine.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On April 3, 1996, at 1030 hours mountain standard time, an antique Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3, N45043, nosed over during a forced landing near Chandler, Arizona. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power during cruise. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot and the one passenger onboard were not injured. The flight originated from Chandler on the day of the accident at 1020 as a local area personal flight.
The pilot reported that he was in cruise when the fuel pressure went to zero. He attempted to restore the fuel pressure by using a hand wobble pump but was unsuccessful. The engine lost power and the aircraft nosed over during the forced landing in desert terrain.
FAA inspectors examined the aircraft and found fuel in the tanks. The engine driven and hand wobble fuel pumps were removed from the engine and taken to an overhaul facility where they were installed in a calibrated test bench for a functional check. Both pumps failed the functional test and did not flow any fuel. Review of the maintenance records revealed no entry denoting an overhaul of the components at the time of the last engine overhaul. The history, calendar age, and total time of the pumps are unknown.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX96LA153