Rans S21 accident near Fairfield, Utah, June 9, 2022
On June 9, 2022 at about 4:45 pm local time, a 2021 Rans S21, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N46JH, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Fairfield, Utah (West Desert Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The owner’s (pilot) failure to properly torque a fuel filter b-nut fitting, which likely introduced air into the fuel system and resulted in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the loss of power was a missing restricted bypass line and a header tank vent line, which would have allowed the venting of air from the fuel system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2022 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fairfield, Utah · West Desert Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans S21, built 2021, amateur-built
- Registration
- N46JH · registry record · serial 02200084
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a test flight following recent maintenance when, shortly after departing, the engine began to lose power. He performed a forced landing on airport property, during which the airplane landed hard and sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the fuel filter b-nut fitting was not properly torqued, which likely introduced air into the fuel system. Additionally, there was no restricted bypass line between the inlet (pressure side of the fuel pump module) and the return line and no vent line from the header tank, both of which would have allowed the venting of air from the fuel system. Based on this evidence, it is likely that the loose fuel filter b-nut allowed the air into the fuel system that could not be properly vented due to the lack of a restricted bypass line and vent line, which ultimately resulted in the loss of engine power.
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
- Hard landing during landing
- Fuel starvation during initial climb defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Design
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel storage › Design
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 329 hours in all; 73 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 99 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 22, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 81 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, September 22, 2021; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 915iS (piston); 81 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,600 ft by 24 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 am from KPVU, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KPVU 091556Z VRB03KT 10SM BKN200 23/07 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP130 T02280067
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on April 25, 2024. 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 | Photo Array of Accident Site-courtesy of Owner | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Rotax Installation Manual-fine Filter | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Rotax Installation Manual-bypass Line Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | 915IS Fuel System Schematic | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Dynon Flight Data-alert Data-raw Csv | data file | Download |
| 7 | Dynon Flight Data-black Box Log Data-raw Csv | data file | Download |
| 8 | Dynon Flight Data-user Log Data-raw Csv | data file | Download |
| 9 | Engine Data Graph | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Engine and Airframe Examination Summary | PDF, 9 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.