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May 3, 2015 · Buhl LA 1 NO Series · N352Y

Cottage Grove, OR

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 3, 2015
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Cottage Grove, OR
Aircraft
Buhl LA 1 NO Series (1931)
Tail Number
N352Y
Operator
Evers Melvin D
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR15LA156

The pilot reported that he was conducting a high-speed taxi test, during which he did not intend to fly, when the airplane encountered a wind gust and then unexpectedly became airborne. Insufficient runway was available to abort the takeoff, so he decided to continue flight in the traffic pattern and return to land. On the downwind leg, the engine lost power. The pilot continued straight ahead toward an open area, and the right wing impacted a tree during the forced landing. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power and serious icing at glide power. The airplane was not equipped with carburetor heat, and it is likely that the loss of engine power was due to carburetor icing.

NTSB Probable Cause

Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Temp/humidity/pressure-Conducive to carburetor icing-Effect on equipment - C

Full Narrative

On May 3, 2015, about 1100 Pacific daylight time, a Buhl LA 1, N352Y, collided with trees during a forced landing at Cottage Grove State Airport (61S) Cottage Grove, Oregon. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The local personal flight was in the traffic pattern. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.The pilot stated that he did not intend to fly. He made several low speed taxi tests, and then began a high speed run. It was windy; after encountering a gust, the airplane unexpectedly became airborne. There was not enough room to abort the takeoff, so the pilot decided to fly the traffic pattern, and return to land. On downwind, the engine lost power; he continued straight ahead toward an open area; the right wing impacted a tree during the forced landing. The pilot reported that the airplane was not equipped with carburetor heat, and suspected that carburetor ice could have caused the loss of power. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector oversaw an examination of the engine. The examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A complete report is part of the public docket. The FAA published Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) CE-09-35 on June 30, 2009, regarding carburetor ice prevention. The conditions encountered in this accident (ambient temperature 71 degrees F, dew point 40 degrees F, and 32 percent relative humidity) were in the area of icing at glide and cruise power, and in the area of serious icing at glide power.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:00 PDT
Nearest AirportCottage Grove State Airport (1nm E)
Runway33
Runway Length3188 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBuhl LA 1 NO Series
Tail NumberN352Y
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorEvers Melvin D
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsSzekely · SR-3-L · Reciprocating · 45
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 80 · Third Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind30° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C
Altimeter29.89 inHg
Observation Time21:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data