FTW93LA256

Factual narrative

On September 4, 1993, at 1700 central daylight time, a Jones Dominator, N44VJ, sustained substantial damage near Magnolia, Arkansas, during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The Pilot/Operator report indicated that the flight departed runway 17 and continued to climb past the end of the runway. The pilot stated that "just as I started to bank to the left my engine stopped and I had to land straight ahead in tall weeds and briars" which "impeded" the wheels. He further stated that the gyroplane nosed over and subsequently came to rest on the left side. Main rotor blades, propeller, and structural tubings were damaged. The pilot reported that he had experienced two previous engine failures and had changed the fuel pump, the pulse line, and the fuel line. This was the first flight following that work. An engine examination conducted by the pilot did not reveal any discrepancies that would have contributed to the power loss. WHILE IN A LEFT BANK AND JUST PAST THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE PILOT HAD TO LAND THE AIRPLANE STRAIGHT AHEAD IN TALL WEEDS AND BRIARS. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD TWO PREVIOUS ENGINE FAILURES AND HAD CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP, THE PULSE LINE, AND THE FUEL LINE. AN ENGINE EXAMINATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE POWER LOSS. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER THE ENGINE WORK. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12