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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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March 4, 1990 · Cessna T50-A17 · N578EK

Brackettville, TX

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 4, 1990
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Brackettville, TX
Aircraft
Cessna T50-A17
Tail Number
N578EK
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW90LA078

The aircraft was departing from an airstrip on a ferry permit for an inoperable landing gear mechanism. The pilot reported that the aircraft's right engine failed at approximately 75 to 100 feet AGL during initial climb. The propeller was not of a type that could be feathered. He stated that he was unable to land on the remaining runway and elected to circle to land. During the circling maneuver, the pilot felt that he would be unable to return to the airstrip and attempted to align the aircraft for landing on a road ahead of the aircraft. During a steep right bank for this purpose the aircraft's right wing struck a power line, cartwheeled, and collided with the terrain. The on site inspection revealed that both engines were having some carburetor heat applied even though the control positions were off. The right carburetor inlet screen was very dirty and the accelerator pump was stuck at the one quarter throttle open position. This was not impact related.

NTSB Probable Cause

AN ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTIONING CARBURETOR AND THE PILOT'S MISJUDGING HIS OBSTACLE CLEARANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A WIRE STRIKE WHILE MANEUVERING TO LAND. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE UNCOMMANDED DEPLOYMENT OF CARBURETOR HEAT ON BOTH ENGINES, AN INOPERATIVE GEAR RETRACTION SYSTEM, AND A PROPELLER SYSTEM WHICH COULD NOT BE FEATHERED.

Full Narrative

THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEPARTING FROM AN AIRSTRIP ON A FERRY PERMIT FOR AN INOPERABLE LANDING GEAR MECHANISM. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT ENGINE FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 75 TO 100 FEET AGL DURING INITIAL CLIMB. THE PROPELLER WAS NOT OF A TYPE THAT COULD BE FEATHERED. HE STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO LAND ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY AND ELECTED TO CIRCLE TO LAND. DURING THE CIRCLING MANEUVER, THE PILOT FELT THAT HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE AIRSTRIP AND ATTEMPTED TO ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT FOR LANDING ON A ROAD AHEAD OF THE AIRCRAFT. DURING A STEEP RIGHT BANK FOR THIS PURPOSE THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT WING STRUCK A POWER LINE, CARTWHEELED, AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE ON SITE INSPECTION REVEALED THAT BOTH ENGINES WERE HAVING SOME CARBURETOR HEAT APPLIED EVEN THOUGH THE CONTROL POSITIONS WERE OFF. THE RIGHT CARBURETOR INLET SCREEN WAS VERY DIRTY AND THE ACCELERATOR PUMP WAS STUCK AT THE ONE QUARTER THROTTLE OPEN POSITION. THIS WAS NOT IMPACT RELATED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:00 CST
Nearest AirportFt. Clark Springs (0nm N)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna T50-A17
Tail NumberN578EK
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsJacobs · R-755-9 · Reciprocating · 245
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 38 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind150° @ 10 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data