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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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February 23, 1993 · Downer Aircraft Industries KR-1 · N9HD

Prescott, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 23, 1993
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Prescott, AZ
Aircraft
Downer Aircraft Industries KR-1
Tail Number
N9HD
Operator
Robert O Woodward
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX93LA135

The experimental homebuilt had only been operated about 56 hours in the last 12 years, with the last flight prior to the accident listed in the aircraft log book as June 16, 1992. The pilot made no statement regarding the accident circumstances. Ground witnesses reported hearing and observing the aircraft descend into a residential area without any apparent engine power. FAA airworthiness inspectors examined the aircraft and reported finding many discrepancies in the aircraft system designs and installations. The fuel system consisted of a Rubbermaid five gallon container connected to the engine with plastic tubing and operated by a hand wobble pump. The carburetor heat system consisted of PVC plumbing pipe held together and secured to both the engine exhaust system and the carburetor with RTV sealant. The FAA inspectors reported that the examination of the Revmaster VW engine itself revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction. Review of FAA records revealed that the pilot's medical had expired. The pilot had held his private certificate for 40 years and had flown 290 hours in that time. The available pilot and aircraft records disclosed that the pilot had not flown in the last seven months.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA AT THE TIME OF THE POWER INTERRUPTION.

Full Narrative

THE EXPERIMENTAL HOMEBUILT HAD ONLY BEEN OPERATED ABOUT 56 HOURS IN THE LAST 12 YEARS, WITH THE LAST FLIGHT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT LISTED IN THE AIRCRAFT LOG BOOK AS JUNE 16, 1992. THE PILOT MADE NO STATEMENT REGARDING THE ACCIDENT CIRCUMSTANCES. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING AND OBSERVING THE AIRCRAFT DESCEND INTO A RESIDENTIAL AREA WITHOUT ANY APPARENT ENGINE POWER. FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND REPORTED FINDING MANY DISCREPANCIES IN THE AIRCRAFT SYSTEM DESIGNS AND INSTALLATIONS. THE FUEL SYSTEM CONSISTED OF A RUBBERMAID FIVE GALLON CONTAINER CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE WITH PLASTIC TUBING AND OPERATED BY A HAND WOBBLE PUMP. THE CARBURETOR HEAT SYSTEM CONSISTED OF PVC PLUMBING PIPE HELD TOGETHER AND SECURED TO BOTH THE ENGINE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE CARBURETOR WITH RTV SEALANT. THE FAA INSPECTORS REPORTED THAT THE EXAMINATION OF THE REVMASTER VW ENGINE ITSELF REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. REVIEW OF FAA RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE PILOT'S MEDICAL HAD EXPIRED. THE PILOT HAD HELD HIS PRIVATE CERTIFICATE FOR 40 YEARS AND HAD FLOWN 290 HOURS IN THAT TIME. THE AVAILABLE PILOT AND AIRCRAFT RECORDS DISCLOSED THAT THE PILOT HAD NOT FLOWN IN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 MST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftDowner Aircraft Industries KR-1
Tail NumberN9HD
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRobert O Woodward
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRevmaster · 2100 CC · Reciprocating · 80
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 70 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 8 kt
Visibility65 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52 / 27 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time20:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data