Fokker DR-1 accident near Fulshear, Texas, October 3, 2016
On October 3, 2016 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 2015 Fokker DR-1, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N83WR, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Fulshear, Texas (Covey Trails airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power due to the improper assembly of the mechanical fuel pump.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 2016 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fulshear, Texas · Covey Trails · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fokker DR-1, built 2015, amateur-built
- Registration
- N83WR · registry record · serial 103
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot was conducting the first flight test of the experimental, amateur-built airplane when, shortly after takeoff, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude, and the pilot conducted a forced landing to a tree nursery about 1 mile from the airport. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the mechanical fuel pump housing screws were slightly loose, and the fuel screen was not properly seated. Although an engine run and several high-speed taxi runs were conducted before the flight without any observed anomalies, it is likely that the pump housing screws further loosened during these tests and subsequently allowed air to enter the fuel system during flight, disrupting the fuel flow to the engine.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel pumps › Malfunction
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Capability exceeded
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel pumps › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 23,000 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 18,850 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotec R3600 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X09 Fulshear TX at 11:00 pm
- Destination: X09 Fulshear TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,352 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from KTME, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on January 19, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Information | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Rotec Information | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photos (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.