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Running on Zero
Running on Zero
| { | |
| "case_id": "ANTSB-0359", | |
| "context": "An independent national transport safety board assembled the following factual record concerning a light single-engine aeroplane that was substantially damaged during a personal flight. Analysis, findings, and cause determination are withheld.", | |
| "sources": "S1 = investigation report, factual sections\nS2 = statement of the pilot\nS3 = examination and maintenance records for the propeller and aircraft by an inspector and a mechanic\nS4 = aviation medical records for the pilot\nS5 = aircraft performance data", | |
| "evidence": "E1.1 | Accident occurrence | observation | S1 | On the event day, about 0855 eastern daylight time, the subject, the aeroplane, was substantially damaged in an accident near the town; the private pilot and passenger were not injured.\nE1.2 | Branches around the wreckage | observation | S1 | Broken branches about 20 ft up in the trees and scattered branches were observed around the wreckage.\nE1.3 | Wing damage | observation | S1 | The right outboard portion of the wing separated, and the left wing leading edge was crushed.\nE1.4 | Available maintenance and examination records | observation | S1 | No additional records documenting the airplane or engine maintenance history or the postaccident examination were available for review, and the mechanic who completed the examination could not be reached for follow-up.\nE2.1 | Flight operation | statement | S1 | The airplane was operated as the applicable operating regulations personal flight.\nE2.2 | Passenger, fuel, and gross weight | measurement | S1 | The passenger weighed about 135 pounds and the fuel weighed 78 pounds; the gross weight was under the useful load by about 55 pounds.\nE3.1 | Pilot experience with the airplane | statement | S2 | The pilot reported that this was his first flight with a passenger in this particular airplane, although he had recently flown an exemplar airplane with two 190-pound individuals and it performed well.\nE3.2 | Planned fuel and route | statement | S2 | Thirteen gallons of fuel were on board for the planned 90-mile flight from the departure airport in the town, to the destination airport in the destination town.\nE3.3 | Preflight and takeoff performance | statement | S2 | The pilot reported that the preflight, runup, and takeoff roll were all “normal.” After becoming airborne, the airplane would not climb out of ground effect and settled back onto the runway; the same thing occurred during a second climb attempt.\nE3.4 | Third takeoff attempt and tree impact | statement | S2 | On the third attempt, the airplane lifted off but never achieved more than 20 ft of altitude, impacted trees about 90 ft beyond the departure end of the runway, and came to rest upright just inside the tree line.\nE4.1 | Oil and fuel condition | observation | S3 | the aviation authority's inspector found oil in the crankcase and three-quarters of a tank of fuel that was clear of water or debris.\nE4.2 | Compression examination procedure | observation | S3 | A local airframe and powerplant mechanic familiar with the airplane was asked to conduct a compression test under the aviation authority's supervision, but conducted maintenance and performed the examination without oversight.\nE4.3 | Engine compression readings | statement | S3 | The mechanic reported to the pilot that the No. 2 cylinder had a compression value of less than 50 psi and the remaining cylinders had compression readings in the mid-70s.\nE5.1 | Pilot weight | measurement | S4 | the aviation authority's airmen medical records showed that the pilot weighed 212 pounds at his last medical examination on about six months before the event.\nE6.1 | Takeoff distance performance | measurement | S5 | Performance data for the airplane indicate that the takeoff distance required to clear a 50 ft obstacle was about 630 ft, which was about one quarter of the runway's length." | |
| } |