Accident Eipper Quicksilver MX N53317, Friday 8 May 1987

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Date:	Friday 8 May 1987
Time:	19:43 LT
Type:	Eipper Quicksilver MX
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N53317
MSN:	4451
Total airframe hrs:	400 hours
Engine model:	ROTAX 503
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Monroe, NC - United States of America
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Monroe, NC
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE STUDENT PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE THE ULTRALIGHT-TYPE ACFT WAS ON FINAL APPROACH TO A MOWED FIELD OWNED BY HIM. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED A TREE AT THE END OF THE FIELD AND FELL TO THE TERRAIN NOSE-DOWN. THE STUDENT PILOT NOTED THAT THE ACFT WAS FUELED WITH 93 OCTANE AUTOMOTIVE GAS MIXED WITH 2-CYCLE LUBE OIL, AND THAT THE FUEL WAS 6 MONTHS OLD. HE EXPRESSED THE OPINION THAT THE PWR LOSS MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE AGE OF THE FUEL.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: