NTSB Identification: CEN12LA582
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, August 27, 2012 in Jim Falls, WI
Probable Cause Approval Date: 05/09/2013
Aircraft: WACO UPF-7, registration: N32011
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
During a local proficiency flight, throughout which the pilot had the fuel selector set to its “both” position, the airplane’s engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and performed a forced landing, during which the airplane's left landing gear impacted an obstacle and the airplane skidded sideways and nosed over. The pilot stated that initially he did not observe fuel leaking from either fuel tank vent after the accident. However, after he opened and resealed the tank caps, the pilot noticed fuel leaking from the right fuel tank vent, consistent with an existing fuel vent obstruction having been dislodged. Subsequent examination revealed no usable fuel in the left fuel tank and 20 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank. A postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any other anomalies that would have caused a loss of engine power.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The blockage of the right fuel tank vent, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
On August 27, 2012, about 1345 central daylight time, a Waco UPF-7 airplane, N32011, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power while in cruise near Jim Falls, Wisconsin. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial wing damage. The airplane was registered to Minocqua Holdings Ltd. and was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a VFR flight plan. The local flight originated from the Rosenbaum Field Airport, near Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, about 1150.
According to the pilot’s accident report, he visually confirmed that the fuel tanks were full before departing on the proficiency flight. The pilot observed that fuel had expanded and overflowed through the right tank vent onto the upper wing and fuselage, which was cleaned from the wing by the pilot. He had the fuel tank selector valve set on the "Both" position before to departure. After two hours of flight, the airplane had a loss of engine power. The pilot immediately applied carburetor heat, which restored engine power for about 10 seconds, and he verified that the fuel tank selector valve was set to the both position. The engine subsequently had a total loss of power where the pilot could obtain short bursts of power by rocking the pitch attitude of the aircraft up and down. The pilot selected an alfalfa field for the forced landing. The airplane’s left landing gear impacted a post and the landing gear separated from the airplane. The airplane then skidded 40 to 50 feet and slid sideways due to separated left landing gear. The airplane rolled up on its nose and right wing tip. The pilot stated, "Upon exiting I did not observe any fuel leakage from either tank cap or vent." After approximately 20 to 30 minutes, he observed that the fuel tank vents had no sign of leakage from either vent. He loosened each fuel cap and found that the left tank did not contain any fuel while the right tank did contain fuel. The pilot subsequently returned to the airplane and observed that the vent was now leaking.
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage. He indicated that approximately 20 gallons of fuel was reported to have been recovered from the airplane. The inspector did not find any anomalies that would have caused the loss of engine power.
The pilot’s safety recommendation stated that the fuel cap should be removed and checked by blowing into the vent pipe to verify the vent is open during the preflight.
At 1356, the recorded weather at the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport, near Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was: Wind 350 degrees at 8 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 29 degrees C; dew point 11 degrees C; altimeter 30.09 inches of mercury.
NTSB Identification: CEN12LA582
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, August 27, 2012 in Jim Falls, WI
Aircraft: WACO UPF-7, registration: N32011
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On August 27, 2012, about 1400 central daylight time, a Waco UPF-7 airplane, N32011, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power while in cruise near Jim Falls, Wisconsin. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial wing damage. The airplane was registered to Minocqua Holdings Ltd. and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a VFR flight plan. The flight’s origination and destination are unknown.
At 1356, the recorded weather at the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport, near Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was: Wind 350 degrees at 8 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 29 degrees C; dew point 11 degrees C; altimeter 30.09 inches of mercury.
Witnesses say it crashed about 2 miles south of town near County Road K.
The plane crashed in a field, on its nose, with heavy damage.
WEAU's Courtney Everett talked to a witness who called in the accident.
He said he heard the pilot from the plane, saying he was OK.
The pilot, 67-year-old David Worgernese of Eau Claire, tried restarting the engine to no avail.
He already left the scene by the time news crews arrived.
The plane was leaking fuel after the crash and crews worked to contain that problem.
A quick background check shows the plane is registered out of Whitefish, Montana to a company called Minocqua Holdings.
The tail number is registered to a 1941 Waco UPF-7, a single engine bi-plane.
According to biplaneride.com, there were about 600 of these planes produced from 1938-1942.
The plane was originally developed as a WWII trainer.
Fewer than 80 remain today.
Most are in museums.
JIM FALLS, Wis. (AP) - A pilot walked away unhurt after his plane crashed nose first in a field near Jim Falls in western Wisconsin.
Authorities say David Worgernese, of Eau Claire, was piloting the biplane when it developed engine problems Monday afternoon
The Chippewa County Sheriff's Department says he attempted to land in a hay field just after 1:30 p.m. when the plane clipped a corner post of a fence.
The plane was identified as a 1941 Waco UPF-7 single-engine biplane.
Minocqua holdings is alleged to be owned by a D. Wogernese who is reported to have been out looking over possible farms to seize or have been seized, ie the Ribera family farm he seized illegally without a trial is just across the hwy from the CF ariport and d Wogernese, under other family names and holding companies, broke ground on the Ribera's Homesteaded family farm on Aug 30, 2014, reported by WEAU on Aug 31. Lets Investigate how pay of bribes to 3 or 4 can get someone land without federal funding and make a family homeless...20,000 affected by this. Interview E. Ribera at buffalostudy@yahoo.com
ReplyDeletePlease pray for all homeless by greed of others who feel they can pass under the radar of scrutiny. lets take back our homes America!