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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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September 15, 1988 · Piper PA-12 · N2833M

Covington, TN

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 15, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Covington, TN
Aircraft
Piper PA-12
Tail Number
N2833M
Operator
Ne Patrol
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL88LA252

The pilot reported that the engine suddenly began to run rough and backfire during a pipeline patrol flight at 300 ft AGL. The roughness worsened and the pilot made a forced landing on a dirt road. During rollout, one of the wings caught vegetation bordering the road and the airplane veered off the road into a ditch. Examination of the airplane revealed that it was supplemental type certificated for the use of automotive gasoline, and that it was fueled with auto gas. Examination of the Lycoming O-290-D2 engine revealed that the #4 exhaust valve was stuck open, and heavy carbon deposits were present on the valve. The valves in the #3 cylinder were found to be burned. Lycoming does not recommend the use of auto gas in Lycoming aircraft engines. Service Letter L199 notes that gums can form in auto fuels which can cause sticking valves. FAA AC 91.33A contains several cautions on the use of the auto fuel concerning quality control, gum formation, volatility, and carburetor icing.

Full Narrative

THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND BACKFIRE DURING A PIPELINE PATROL FLIGHT AT 300 FT AGL. THE ROUGHNESS WORSENED AND THE PLT MADE A FORCED LDG ON A DIRT ROAD. DURING ROLLOUT, ONE OF THE WINGS CAUGHT VEGETATION BORDERING THE ROAD AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. EXAM OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT IT WAS SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATED FOR THE USE OF AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE, AND THAT IT WAS FUELED WITH AUTO GAS. EXAM OF THE LYC 0-290-D2 ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE #4 EXHAUST VALVE WAS STUCK OPEN, AND HEAVY CARBON DEPOSITS WERE PRESENT ON THE VALVE. THE VALVES IN THE #3 CYL WERE FOUND TO BE BURNED. LYCOMING DOES NOT RECOMMEND THE USE OF AUTO GAS IN LYCOMING ACFT ENGINES. SERVICE LETTER L199 NOTES THAT GUMS CAN FORM IN AUTO FUELS WHICH CAN CAUSE STICKING VALVES. FAA AC 91.33A CONTAINS SEVERAL CAUTIONS ON THE USE OF THE AUTO FUEL CONCERNING QUALITY CONTROL, GUM FORMATION, VOLATILITY & CARB ICING.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:00 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-12
Tail NumberN2833M
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorNe Patrol
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-290-D2 · Reciprocating · 135
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 44 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 5 kt
Visibility25 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data