Summary
On June 20, 2022, a Hawker HUNTER (N337AX) was involved in an accident near Wilmington, NC. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: A bearing failure in the high-pressure fuel pump, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.
On June 20, 2022, about 1550 eastern daylight time, an experimental Hawker Hunter MK.58, N337AX, was substantially damaged when it impacted the Atlantic Ocean about 40 miles southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina. The commercial pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 public use flight.
According to the operator, while performing an exercise with the US Navy, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power at flight level 240. Specifically, the rpm reduced and stabilized to about 5,000. The pilot knew that 6,800 to 7,200 rpm would be required to maintain altitude and return to an airport. After two unsuccessful attempts to restore engine power, the pilot ejected from the airplane at 3,000 ft mean sea level.
This accident is documented in NTSB report ERA22LA277. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N337AX.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
A bearing failure in the high-pressure fuel pump, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On June 20, 2022, about 1550 eastern daylight time, an experimental Hawker Hunter MK.58, N337AX, was substantially damaged when it impacted the Atlantic Ocean about 40 miles southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina. The commercial pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 public use flight.
According to the operator, while performing an exercise with the US Navy, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power at flight level 240. Specifically, the rpm reduced and stabilized to about 5,000. The pilot knew that 6,800 to 7,200 rpm would be required to maintain altitude and return to an airport. After two unsuccessful attempts to restore engine power, the pilot ejected from the airplane at 3,000 ft mean sea level. The pilot was subsequently rescued by a nearby fishing vessel; however, he suffered a serious back injury during the ejection.
The fuel system was examined at a maintenance facility after the wreckage was recovered from the ocean. The examination revealed that a bearing failed in the high-pressure fuel pump governor, which prevented pump output pressure from increasing above 850 psi; the operating range limit was between 1900 to 2200 psi.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA22LA277