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March 3, 1985 · Cessna 177 · N29460

Houston, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 3, 1985
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Location
Houston, TX
Aircraft
Cessna 177
Tail Number
N29460
Operator
Champion Aviation
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW85LA134

After the fourth touch-and-go landing on RWY 17R, power was applied and a normal climb initiated. At about 400 ft AGL, power was reduced; the engine developed heavy vibrations and approximately 50% power loss. The CFI took control from the private pilot receiving dual instruction and initially turned right followed by a left downwind turn. At 45-60 degrees angle-of-bank, the aircraft turned approximately 190 degrees in an effort to land on RWY 35L. According to the CFI, the aircraft stalled and contacted the ground left wing first. Examination of the engine revealed that continuity in the mixture control system did not exist. No attaching hardware that would connect the mixture linkage to the carburetor was installed by the operator 13.8 flight hours and 35 days prior to the accident. Wind at the time of the forced landing was from 180 degrees at 18 gusting to 28 kts. After re-rigging the mixture control linkage and repairing impact engine damage, the engine was successfully test-run.

Full Narrative

AFTER THE FOURTH TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING ON RWY 17R POWER WAS APPLIED AND A NORMAL CLIMB INIIATED. AT ABOUT 400 FT AGL POWER WAS REDUCED; THE ENGINE DEVELOPED HEAVY VIBRATIONS AND APRX 50% POWER LOSS. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL FROM THE PRIVATE PLT RECEIVING DUAL INSTRUCTION AND INITIALLY TURNED RIGHT FOLLOWED BY A LEFT DOWNWIND TURN. AT 45-60 DEGREES ANGLE-OF-BANK THE ACFT TURNED APRX 190 DEGREES IN AN EFFORT TO LAND ON RWY 35L. ACCORDING TO THE CFI THE ACFT STALLED AND CONTACTED THE GROUND LEFT WING FIRST. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT CONTINUITY IN THE MIXTURE CONTROL SYSTEM DID NOT EXIST. NO ATTACKING HARDWARE THAT WOULD CONNECT THE MIXTURE LINKAGE TO THE CARBURETOR WAS INSTALLED BY THE OPERATOR 13.8 FLT HOURS AD 35 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. WIND AT THE TIME OF THE FORCED LANDING WAS FORM 180 DEGREES AT 18 GUSTING TO 28 KTS. AFTER RE-RIGGING THE MIXTURE CONTROL LINKAGE AND REPAIRING IMPACT ENGINE DAMAGE THE ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY TEST-RUN.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:01 CST
Nearest AirportDavid W. Hooks Memorial (0nm N)
Runway35
Runway Length7000 ft
Runway Width110 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 177
Tail NumberN29460
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorChampion Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A1A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 22 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 18 kt, gusting 28 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time22:01
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data