Mailing List lml@lancaironline.net Message #10179
From: <AVIDWIZ@aol.com>
Subject: An update on the investigation of N424E Crash.
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 23:19:49 EDT
To: <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
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Gentlemen of the list:

I have spoken to the NTSB investigator who reviewed the wreckage of N424E
yesterday which crashed in Flagstaff AZ taking the life of Tony Durizzi.  

He reviewed the wreckage with a representative from Lancair who in addition
to being an experienced builder was one of the test pilots who flew 424E when
we were trying to sort out the engine set up in the early stages.

I have been told that they were shocked to find that there was no fuel vent
in the right wing at the BL-141 rib for venting the D section.

This error in building the plane could not have been seen once the wings had
been closed and would have caused fuel not to be able to be held in the D
section and to further complicate matters if fuel did run into the D section
during a 45 degree bank angle during flight then it would not be usable
because of the suction caused by the lack of a vent.

This error can have only be caused by not building the airplane according to
specifications since there was a fuel vent in the left wing.

For the record John Kerner finished this plane and John Kerner was
specifically paid to investigate why there were fuel capacity problems in
December 2000 with the right wing.

It looks like George Braly's theroy may be correct in that Tony thought there
was 80 gal available but in reality there was only about 71 since the D
section should hold +/- 9 gal.

The NTSB is sending the engine to TCM for a test run and is having the
Archangel EFIS and GPS examined to see what information we can learn from
them as well.

Thoughts and comments would be appreciated.

Regards,


Dave
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Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.
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