Diamond Aircraft Industries DA-42 accident near Bellefontaine, Ohio, August 17, 2021
On August 17, 2021 at about 9:15 pm local time, a 2007 Diamond Aircraft Industries DA-42, registered N215BN, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Bellefontaine, Ohio (Bellefontaine Regional Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper position of the right engine’s fuel feed pump bolt, which led to a total loss of power on the right engine, and the left engine's partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2021 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bellefontaine, Ohio · Bellefontaine Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft Industries DA-42, built 2007
- Registration
- N215BN · registry record · serial 42.AC055
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an instructional flight, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power of the right engine during climb followed by a partial loss of power on the left engine. The flight instructor performed a forced landing on a field that was off the runway departure end. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the forced landing. Before the accident flight, the airplane had undergone maintenance to replace the time-limited engine fuel feed pump (FFP) on both engines, and no maintenance check flight was required to be performed before flight. Postaccident examination of the right engine revealed that the right engine fuel feed pump bolt was not seated and thus might have resulted in inadequate fuel pressure for proper engine operation. The available evidence for this investigation did not allow a determination of the reason that the bolt was not properly seated. Maintenance personnel stated that they did not change the position of the right engine’s FFP bolt when the FPP was installed onto the engine. Both engines were tested with engine exhaust pipes that were found not in compliance with an airworthiness directive for fractured exhaust pipes that could result in an uncommanded engine shutdown. Postaccident testing of the left engine was unable to duplicate any power loss. As a result, the reason for the left engine’s power reduction during the accident flight could not be determined based on the available evidence. The right engine operated normally after its fuel feed pump bolt was moved to its seated position.
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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel pump › Not specified
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine exhaust › (general) › Failure
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Last flight review: April 18, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: type not recorded, August 17, 2021; 3,138.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,407 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Technify Motors Gmbh TAE 125 02-99 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Technify Motors Gmbh TAE 125 02-99 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Midwest Corporate Air Inc
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from EDJ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
15 documents, released by the NTSB on December 8, 2022. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Flight Instructor and Pilot Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Video of Accident Takeoff | 3GP file | Download |
| 4 | Left Engine Ecu Message Download of Accident | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Right Engine Ecu Message Accident Download | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Record of Correspondence - Engine Manufacturer | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo Log | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | FAA Inspector's Statement of Engine Run | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Left Engine Control Unit Download - March 8, 2022 | spreadsheet | Download |
| 10 | Right Engine Control Unit Download - March 8, 2022 | spreadsheet | Download |
| 11 | Left Engine Logbooks | PDF, 26 pages | View Download |
| 12 | Right Engine Logbook | PDF, 25 pages | View Download |
| 13 | Email Fuel Feed Pump Bolt | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 14 | Email from Engine Manufacturer | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 15 | Record of Conversation - Aircraft Test Run | PDF, 1 page | 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.
