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NTSB Report
July 28, 1989 · Callair A-9 · N8246H
Cartwright, ND
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 28, 1989
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Cartwright, ND
Aircraft
Callair A-9
Tail Number
N8246H
Operator
Air Specialties
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN89LA181
THE PILOT WAS SPRAYING THIOLUX ON A FIELD AND HAD JUST PULLED UP FROM SWATH RUN WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND NOTED ENGINE RPM DECAY. GROUND WITNESSES ALSO HEARD THE BANG AND OBSERVED DARK SMOKE TRAILING FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN AN ALFALFA FIELD. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. A SMALL CARBURETOR FIRE WAS ALSO EXTINGUISHED. THE ENGINE AND CARBURETOR WERE PARTIALLY DISASSEMBLED. EVIDENCE OF AN EXTREMELY RICH MIXTURE, BACKFIRE, AND CARBURETOR FIRE WAS FOUND. ALL THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BLACK. THE CARBURETOR WAS OVERHAULED IN 1987 BECAUSE THE ENGINE RAN ROUGH AND WOULD NOT DEVELOP FULL POWER, REGARDLESS OF MIXTURE CONTROL SETTING. THE CARBURETOR HAD ACCUMULATED 300 HOURS SINCE OVERHAUL.
NTSB Probable Cause
A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO AN IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED CARBURETOR WHICH RESULTED IN AN EXCESSIVE RICH FUEL-AIR MIXTURE. THIS REQUIRED A FORCED LANDING IN AN AREA WHERE NO SUITABLE TERRAIN EXISTED.
Full Narrative
THE PILOT WAS SPRAYING THIOLUX ON A FIELD AND HAD JUST PULLED UP FROM SWATH RUN WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND NOTED ENGINE RPM DECAY. GROUND WITNESSES ALSO HEARD THE BANG AND OBSERVED DARK SMOKE TRAILING FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN AN ALFALFA FIELD. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. A SMALL CARBURETOR FIRE WAS ALSO EXTINGUISHED. THE ENGINE AND CARBURETOR WERE PARTIALLY DISASSEMBLED. EVIDENCE OF AN EXTREMELY RICH MIXTURE, BACKFIRE, AND CARBURETOR FIRE WAS FOUND. ALL THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BLACK. THE CARBURETOR WAS OVERHAULED IN 1987 BECAUSE THE ENGINE RAN ROUGH AND WOULD NOT DEVELOP FULL POWER, REGARDLESS OF MIXTURE CONTROL SETTING. THE CARBURETOR HAD ACCUMULATED 300 HOURS SINCE OVERHAUL.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:30 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftCallair A-9
Tail NumberN8246H
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAir Specialties
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsJacobs · R-755-A2M · Reciprocating · 300
Seats1
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 32 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO