N1716K

On September 7, 1998, at 2230 hours Pacific daylight time, a Silvaire Luscombe 8E, collided with power lines in a remote area near Mojave, California, while making a forced landing due to a loss of power. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the private pilot/owner, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The personal flight originated at 2220 from the California City, California, airport and no flight plan was filed. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The pilot reported that he had last received fuel "a couple of months ago" at Porterville, and since then, had only flown the aircraft 1.7 hours, which he estimated used 9 gallons of fuel. He reported that he kept the aircraft tied down outside. The pilot stated that before the accident flight, he visually checked for fuel and felt inside the fuel tanks with his fingers as well. He estimated that the right tank was 3/4 full, and the left tank was 1/2 full. The pilot reported that after a normal run-up and takeoff, he departed for a local area night flight.

He proceeded toward an 8-mile oval automotive test track in the area. Upon reaching the facility, he entered a left turn over the building complex and circled twice before continuing to the northwest. The pilot reported that after rolling out of the turn, the engine began to run rough and the rpm started to decrease. He switched from the left fuel tank to the right tank, but stated that it didn't help. At that point he was almost over the northern portion of the test track, so he decided to make a landing on the track. The pilot stated that he turned to the east for the approach and switched on the landing light. During the approach, he ran into electrical power lines that ran perpendicular to the test track. He reported that he had not seen the power lines. The pilot estimated that the aircraft impacted the ground at an airspeed of approximately 80 to 85 mph. The aircraft came to rest on the test track in the direction of flight about 200 feet from the power lines in a 50-degree nose down attitude.

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector from the Van Nuys, California, Flight Standards District Office responded to the accident site the following morning. He reported that the aircraft retrievers drained 1.25 total gallons of fuel from the aircraft. There was also a small fuel stain on the ground which the inspector estimated to be approximately 1 gallon of fuel. The inspector further stated that both fuel tanks were found intact.

The Safety Board conducted an engine teardown on October 6, 1998. There was no external damage noted to the engine, except for some damage to the number 1 cylinder. Thumb compression was verified in all four cylinders and the engine rotation established accessory gear and valve train continuity. The fuel vents were checked and found to be clear and unobstructed. There was no fuel found in the carburetor or the fuel lines.