Amateur-built II accident near Bulverde, Texas, June 24, 2022
On June 24, 2022 at about 1:48 pm local time, a 2006 amateur-built II, registered N10236, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Bulverde, Texas (Bulverde Airpark airport). It was a personal 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
A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation due to a blockage of the fuel tank outlet port.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2022 · about 1:48 pm local time
- Place
- Bulverde, Texas · Bulverde Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built II, built 2006
- Registration
- N10236 · no longer on the register · serial 289
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the amphibious airplane’s engine gradually lost partial power shortly after takeoff and he was unable to maintain altitude. He performed a forced landing in a field with the retractable landing gear in the retracted position. After touchdown on the hull, as the airplane slowed, the right wing settled to the ground and the right-wing sponson struck the ground. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage during the forced landing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fiberglass fuel tanks of the airplane had debris and deterioration. The resin used in construction of the fuel tanks was not compatible with automotive gasoline. The pilot/owner had never used automotive gasoline but could not attest to what previous owners had used. Further examination did not reveal any other preimpact anomalies with the engine that would have precluded normal operations. Although there was a potential for carburetor icing at glide power, based on the available evidence and that the airplane was taking off at the time of the accident, the engine likely lost power due to fuel starvation caused by debris obstructing the fuel outlet port of the fuel tank.
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
- Fuel starvation during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel storage › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 2,800 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,600 as pilot in command; 1,740 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 140 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 11, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 225 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,890 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 am from KSAT, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSAT 241351Z 22007KT 10SM FEW100 FEW250 27/21 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP135 T02720211=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on November 15, 2023. 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 | Record of Conversation with Pilot/owner | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Carburetor Icing Chart | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 3 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.