Czech Sport SPORTCRUISER N564SC accident near Naples, Florida

Probable cause

Collision with a bird in flight, which resulted in damage to the engine, a fuel leak, and a subsequent total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

NTSB analysis

According to the passenger, the pilot fueled the airplane before takeoff. While en route, about 2,500 ft above ground level, the airplane struck a large bird. The engine continued to operate for about 2 minutes, until the "low fuel" warning indicator illuminated, and then the engine lost total power. The pilot declared an emergency and performed a forced landing on a road. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a road sign and several large trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nosewheel fairing and the underside of the engine cowling displayed evidence of a bird strike. Examination of the engine revealed that the carburetor was leaking fuel. The damage to the carburetor could not be definitively attributed to the bird strike alone. However, given that the airplane had been fueled immediately before the flight, that a low fuel warning was annunciated shortly after the bird strike, and that the bird had impacted an area in the vicinity from which fuel was leaking, it is likely that the bird strike damaged the fuel system, which resulted in fuel draining from the airplane, subsequent fuel exhaustion, and a total loss of engine power.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA19LA091 for the full record.