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NTSB Report

September 2, 2018 · Stinson 108 3 · N4059C

Indiana, PA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 2, 2018
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Indiana, PA
Aircraft
Stinson 108 3 (1949)
Tail Number
N4059C
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA18LA242

The student pilot and instructor departed on a local instructional flight, completing about 35 minutes of airwork before returning to the airport to practice takeoffs and landings. They performed several landings and used full carburetor heat during each approach. During the initial climb for the last takeoff, the engine response was "normal" until about 300 ft above ground level, when the engine "abruptly" lost total power. The flight instructor took the flight controls, attempted to restore engine power, and turned the airplane toward a clearing, where it impacted trees before impacting the ground. Fuel samples from the wings, gascolator, and carburetor revealed solid debris similar to dirt and orange sealant in all samples. Additionally, an air filter element was found lodged in the carburetor venturi. Because the airplane had flown for a few hours since maintenance was completed and the engine stopped producing power "abruptly," it is likely that the engine was starved of fuel as a result of the debris that migrated through the fuel system, which resulted in the total loss of engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power as a result of debris contamination of the fuel, which resulted in fuel starvation.

Full Narrative

On September 2, 2018, about 0920 eastern daylight time, a Stinson 108, N4059C, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Indiana County Airport (IDI), Indiana, Pennsylvania. The student pilot incurred serious injuries and the flight instructor was incurred minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight, which originated around 0800. The instructional flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the flight instructor, the student pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane, which included sampling fuel from the fuel tanks, with no anomalies noted. In addition, there was about 12.5 gallons of fuel in each tank, totaling 25 gallons. They departed the airport and used the right fuel tank for the beginning of the flight and switched to the left tank after about 35 minutes of air work outside the airport traffic pattern. They returned to the traffic pattern and performed about 5 landings and used full carburetor heat during each approach. During the initial climb of the last take off, the engine response was "normal" until about 300 ft above ground level. At that time, the engine "abruptly" lost total power. The flight instructor took the flight controls, pitched the airplane to maintain airspeed, and attempted to regain engine power. He turned the airplane toward a clearing, and the airplane struck trees prior to impacting the ground. The airplane came to rest upright in high brush. The forward section of the fuselage was substantially damaged. Initial examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the engine mount was fractured in three places and there were no holes in the crankcase. In addition, crankshaft continuity was confirmed from the propeller hub to the accessory section of the engine. The magnetos produced spark on all towers. A fuel sample was taken from the wings and solid debris was noted in the fuel. In addition, fuel was noted in the gascolator and debris was noted in the sample. Fuel was drained from the wings and debris was noted. The debris was similar to dirt and orange sealant. The carburetor was removed from the engine and disassembled. There was an air filter element lodged in the throat of the carburetor venturi. In addition, there was debris in the fuel inside the carburetor bowl and in the carburetor fuel inlet screen. According to the FAA inspector, the owner had the airplane for about 2 and a half years. In that time, it had flown about 20 hours. Between August 2016 and August 2018, the airplane engine had all new cylinders installed and the wings recovered. The most recent annual inspection was completed on May 24, 2018, at a total time of 2493.8 hours. On the day of the accident the airplane had accumulated 2,498 total hours. In a conversation with the student pilot, he stated that there was no fuel contamination noted from the fuel storage tanks at the airport around the time of the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:20 EDT
Nearest AirportIndiana County/Jimmy Stewart F (1nm NW)
Runway29
Runway Length5502 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftStinson 108 3
Tail NumberN4059C
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsFranklin · 6A4-165-B3 · Reciprocating · 165
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 63 · Third Class · Serious
Crew 2Age 52 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind250° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter30.31 inHg
Observation Time13:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data