NTSB Factual Report

On August 15, 2002, at 1100 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Lancair 320, N83WS, owned and piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed during a forced landing about 5 miles north of Allen County Airport (K88), Iola, Kansas. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating on an instrument rules flight plan. The pilot received minor injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from Hutchinson Municipal Airport (HUT), Hutchinson, Kansas, about 1015.

The pilot reported that the engine lost power when the airplane was level at 2,200 feet during an instrument approach to K88. He reported that he executed a forced landing in a field after an unsuccessful attempt to restart the engine. The airplane hit a berm and flipped over.

The pilot stated that the fuel on the accident airplane is drawn only from the header tank. There is no fuel selector valve to change. Fuel is moved from the wing tanks to the header tank automatically.

Inspection of the wreckage was performed by the Federal Aviation Administration. The airplane was inverted and resting in a pasture with its main wings separated from the fuselage. About one gallon of fuel from each wing spilled out of each wing when they were turned over. There was no fuel found in the header tank. The landing gear was retracted. The main fuel sump screen and carburetor inlet screen were free of contaminants. Disassembly of the carburetor found no contamination or anomalies. The spark plugs were removed and the engine was rotated by hand; engine continuity and thumb compression was confirmed. Both magnetos were rotated and electrical continuity was confirmed. Inspection of the flight control system confirmed continuity.

NTSB Probable Cause

the engine failure for undetermined reasons and the lack of a suitable landing area to execute a forced landing.