N898LF

On June 13, 1997, approximately 1420 central daylight time, an Aero Commander 200D, N898LF, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a power loss while on approach to Adams Field, near Little Rock, Arkansas. The private pilot, sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was owned/operated by a private individual under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross country flight which originated from North Little Rock, Arkansas, approximately 20 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, the "airplane's right fuel tank had just been worked on." He stated that he was flying the airplane "across town" to get some additional work done on the airplane when the engine's power began to "fall off." The pilot further stated that he picked a field to land in, but struck a wire on short final. The airplane landed with the gear up, and the outer one-third of the right wing was bent upwards.

Postcrash examination of the engine by an FAA Inspector and a representative of the engine's manufacturer revealed a "sliver of the inner wall of the fuel line (between the fuel control and the fuel injection manifold) protruding between the inner ferrule and the nut at the manifold orifice. The pilot had reported to the FAA Inspector that the "fuel pressure had been erratic during flight."

The FAA Inspector reported to the Investigator-In-Charge that "hose assemblies should be visually checked, flushed and pressure checked prior to installation."