N81633 – MULEC FRANK A FP-404 – 2009-01-18 NTSB Accident Report

On January 18, 2009, a Mulec Frank A FP-404 (N81633) was involved in an accident near Hilo, HI. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of a clogged fuel filter.

According to the pilot, during cruise flight in his experimental, amateur built airplane, the Hummel 2180 cc engine suddenly lost all power and the propeller stopped rotating. The pilot attempted to restart the engine by diving the airplane, but he was not successful. The pilot made a forced landing in a clearing near a drag strip. The airplane touched down hard and during roll out, collided with two chain link fences, breaking the biplane's left wings. During the subsequent examination of the airplane, the pilot reported observing a clogged main line fuel filter.

This accident is documented in NTSB report WPR09CA090. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N81633.