NTSB Identification: LAX08LA066
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, February 26, 2008 in Murrieta/Temecu, CA
Aircraft: Bartle Lancair IV-P, registration: N811HB
Injuries: 2 Serious, 2 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On February 26, 2008, at 1321 Pacific standard time, an experimental single-engine Bartle Lancair IV-P airplane, experienced a loss of engine power while on final approach for runway 18 at French Valley Airport (F70), Murrieta/Temecula, California. The owner/pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot and one passenger were seriously injured; two other passengers received minor injuries. The airplane sustained structural damage to the entire fuselage after making an off-airport landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that originated about 1300 from F70.

The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) interviewed the pilot. The pilot stated that the airplane had about 52 hours of total time. This was his first big trip in the airplane. The flight departed from Independence, Oregon, for Southern California, the day before the accident. The flight landed about 2.5 hours after takeoff from Independence at Ontario International Airport (ONT), Ontario, California. The day of the accident, he refueled the airplane at ONT and flew to John Wayne-Orange County Airport (SNA), Santa Ana, California, and then flew to F70. The pilot met his family and friends at F70, with the intent of taking them flying. He loaded the first group, and flew them around the area for about 10 minutes. The pilot stated that an uneventful landing was made; he offloaded the passengers, checked the fuel and oil, and then reloaded another group of passengers on the airplane. He reported having about 35 gallons of fuel onboard the airplane.

The pilot stated that the second flight was uneventful and they flew around the area for about 15 minutes. The downwind and base legs of the landing approach were normal. As the airplane turned onto final, the engine lost power. The pilot stated that the engine "just quit, there was no sputtering or surging." The pilot switched fuel tanks, activated the fuel boost pump, and cycled the mixture, but was unable to get the engine to restart. The pilot stated that he realized that they were short of the runway and he was going to have to make an off-airport landing. The pilot readied his passengers for the emergency landing. He chose an open area, and left the landing gear in the down position. About 20 feet above the ground, he selected full flaps and activated the speed brakes. The airplane contacted the ground at 70 knots, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid across the terrain and came to stop upright.

Responding personnel reported that the wings had not been compromised and there was no fuel leaking from the airplane. They estimated about 25 gallons of fuel remained on board the airplane.

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20080229X00253&key=1