Analysis
The airline transport pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff on the local sightseeing flight, the engine experienced a partial loss of power about 400 ft above ground level. The pilot initiated a turn back to the airport and subsequently landed hard on the runway, substantially damaging the airplane.
During the postaccident engine examination, an obstruction was found in one end of the fuel hose between the gascolator to the carburetor. The firesleeve on the hose was removed, which revealed that the hose entered the fitting at a slight angle that was not visible with the firesleeve in place. To facilitate further examination, the hose was cut close to the obstruction. The inner surface of the hose appeared cut and curled into the hose near the fitting, consistent with the improper assembly of the hose and fitting. It is likely that the curled piece of hose acted as a flapper valve that either restricted or cut off fuel flow to the carburetor. The high demand for fuel during takeoff depleted the supply of fuel in the carburetor and resulted in the loss of power. Although maintenance log entries indicated that the last replacement of the fuel hoses occurred 49 years before the accident, given the condition of the hoses, it is likely that a subsequent replacement was performed but not documented.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
Improper assembly of a fuel hose, which restricted the fuel supply to the carburetor and resulted in a loss of engine power during the initial climb after takeoff.
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Riverside, California
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Palm Springs Air Museum Inc: http://registry.faa.gov/N63555
Location: Palm Springs, CA
Accident Number: WPR16LA078
Date & Time: 03/02/2016, 1300 PST
Registration: N63555
Aircraft: BOEING A75N1(PT17)
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (partial)
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On March 2, 2016, about 1300 Pacific standard time, a Boeing A75N1 (PT17), N63555, touched down hard during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during the initial climb at Palm Springs International Airport, Palm Springs, California. The airline transport pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Palm Springs Air Museum Inc. was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The local sightseeing flight was originating at the time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot reported that the engine lost power passing through 400 ft after takeoff from runway 31L. He saw houses and other obstacles straight ahead and decided to turn around to land on runway 13R. The airplane landed hard on the runway centerline but came to rest aligned about 30° left of the runway heading.
During the initial examination, the forward end of the fuselage sustained crush damage around the front cockpit. The throttle lever in the cockpit would not move due to the damage; all linkages were connected from the cockpit to the carburetor. The mixture lever in the cockpit would not move due to the damage; all linkages were connected from the cockpit to the carburetor. Examination of the wreckage established flight control continuity for all flight controls. Portions of the bottom cylinders, numbers four and five, fractured and separated. A clear blue fluid, consistent with the smell of Avgas, was drained from the gascolator, and a water paste test had no reaction indicating that water contamination was not present. All fittings that could be reached were tight. A black fluid consistent with motor oil was evident on the dipstick. There was no external evidence of catastrophic mechanical malfunction.
A follow-up examination revealed that the exhaust tube coloration was light brown in color.
The air filter was clean. There was no discoloration in the intake tube at the filter.
The crankshaft was rotated using the propeller; there were no metallic sounds or binding. All valves except for the damaged bottom two cylinders moved approximately the same amount of lift in firing order. The gears in the accessory case turned freely. Thumb compression was obtained on all cylinders in firing order except for the two damaged bottom cylinders.
The carburetor was removed and disassembled. The floats were metal; the bowl contained no fluid. The accelerator pump operated without resistance. The throttle lever would not move; the housing was crushed; the butterfly valve was almost vertical (fully open). The mixture lever moved freely from stop to stop.
The carburetor heat arm was crushed at the box, and the rod end at the bellcrank fractured and separated along a jagged and angular plane. The fuel line was removed from the gascolator to the carburetor and nothing drained out from the line. The line was connected back to the gascolator and the fuel selector valve was turned on; blue fluid came out of the line. The line was removed again and an obstruction was seen near one end of the line. The firesleeve was removed on the hose. The hose went into the fitting at a slight angle that was not visible with the firesleeve in place. The line was cut close to the obstruction. The inner surface of the hose appeared cut and curled into the hose at the fitting.
An entry in the maintenance logbooks dated October 20, 1967, recorded that all new gas lines were made. There were no entries after that to indicate any work was performed on the gas line hoses.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Airline Transport; Flight Instructor; Commercial; Flight Engineer
Age: 62, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Rear
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Glider; Helicopter
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Multi-engine; Airplane Single-engine; Helicopter; Instrument Airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 01/08/2016
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 11/14/2014
Flight Time: 14388 hours (Total, all aircraft), 35 hours (Total, this make and model), 10000 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 40 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 25 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 6 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Manufacturer: BOEING
Registration: N63555
Model/Series: A75N1(PT17)
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1946
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 75-8014
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 09/30/2015, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2950 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 9021 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Continental Motors Inc
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: WR-670-6N
Registered Owner: PALM SPRINGS AIR MUSEUM INC
Rated Power: 220 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PSP, 477 ft msl
Observation Time: 1253 PST
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 0°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / -1°C
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 20000 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Calm
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 29.97 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Palm Springs, CA (PSP)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Palm Springs, CA (PSP)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1300 PST
Type of Airspace:
Airport Information
Airport: Palm Springs International (PSP)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 477 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 31L
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 10000 ft / 150 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 33.824444, -116.506667 (est)
NTSB Identification: WPR16LA078
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, March 02, 2016 in Palm Springs, CA
Aircraft: BOEING A75N1(PT17), registration: N63555
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor.
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. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On March 2, 2016, about 1250 Pacific standard time, a Boeing A75N1 (PT17), N63555, touched down hard during an aborted takeoff following a loss of engine power at Palm Springs International Airport, Palm Springs, California. Palm Springs Air Museum was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The airline transport pilot sustained minor injuries and one passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The local personal flight was departing. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot reported that passing through 200 feet on the takeoff the engine lost power. He elected to abort the takeoff, and the airplane landed hard.
The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge and inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the wreckage. Both of the main landing gear fractured and separated at the root, and both of the wings buckled. Portions of the bottom cylinders broke off. Fuel was drained from the gascolator, and a water paste test had no reaction indicating that water contamination was not present. There was no external evidence of catastrophic mechanical malfunction. The wreckage was removed to a recovery facility for further examination.
The pilot has been released from the hospital and the Federal Aviation Administration is taking over the investigation.
The air museum said the passenger was a participant in its plane ride program but they can't release any information on that person's condition.
The vintage Stearman Biplane had engine troubles and landed hard at the airport Wednesday afternoon.
Kent Thomas is a pilot for Palm Springs Biplane Rides.
He's been flying airplanes since the late '70s.
"Airplanes, in my opinion, are a very safe way to travel, and the more training you have, the safer they are," Thomas said.
Thomas said with the biplane, the landing is the hardest part.
"This airplane has the third wheel on the tail rather than on the nose. So when you land, this plane has a tendency to want to reverse directions quickly," Thomas said.
After a quick look around, Thomas shared the secret to success.
"The key to flying any airplane, they say be ahead of the airplane, anticipating what's going to happen in the very near future," Thomas said.
After a 10 minute flight and a smooth landing, Thomas reflected on Wednesday's crash.
"They were able to walk away from the crash, so actually that's a good outcome," Thomas said.
Fred Bell, with the Palm Springs Air Museum, said the plane is in the hands of the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board and it will be a while before they know what happened.
"We had an airplane act up, just as you would a car or something else that acted up. And we need to figure out why it did what it did. If there are corrective measures, we'll take them at that time," Bell said.
While the investigation continues Bell said it's business as usual.
As for Thomas, he's confident his plane will continue to be as safe as ever.
Officials at the Palm Springs Air Museum said they'll continue running flights despite losing one of their aircraft.
Palm Springs Biplane Rides will also continue operating as normal.
Story and video: http://www.kesq.com
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - Emergency officials responded to the Palm Springs International Airport on Wednesday after a biplane made a hard landing on the runway, injuring two people on board.
Stearman aircraft biplane has extremely hard landing at Palm Springs International Airport, injuring two people on board.
The extent of their injuries is unknown at this time but both were taken to the hospital as a precaution.
The Palm Springs Fire Department confirmed the information to KESQ and CBS Local 2 shortly after the incident, which occurred at about 1 p.m.
Officials with the Palm Springs Air Museum said the biplane was a Stearman aircraft. Spokeswoman Ann Greer said the biplane reportedly lost power for some unknown reason before making the hard landing.
Palm Springs Airport Director Tom Nolan said the incident shut down airport operations for about 45 minutes. Several incoming and outgoing flights were delayed while crews worked to clear the aircraft from the runway. Runways were back open at about 2 p.m.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a statement saying the aircraft is a vintage Boeing PT 17 biplane. The tail number is N63555. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.
The FAA and NTSB don't identify people involved in aircraft incidents, officials said in the statement.
Passengers on other planes were tweeting that they weren't being allowed to deplane for about a half hour in the aftermath of the incident.
Original article can be found here: http://www.kesq.com
Two people were injured after an airplane crashed during an "aborted takeoff" at the Palm Springs International Airport Wednesday afternoon.
Just before 1 p.m., the the biplane reached 200 feet before it lost power and returned to the runway, said Fred Bell, managing director of the Palm Springs Air Museum, which owns the airplane. The plane landed and skidded off runway.
"It doesn't appear anyone was seriously injured," Bell said.
The Palm Springs Fire Department confirmed that two people were taken to a local hospital, but referred other questions to airport officials.
According to Air Traffic Control radio transmissions, the plane crash forced all runways to shut down.
Officials used a flatbed truck to remove the biplane from the runway at about 2 p.m.
The single-engine plane - a 1940s-era Stearman - is registered to the Air Museum, according to Federal Aviation Records.
It was donated to the museum in January 2010 by Indian Wells residents Wayne and Laura Hoffman.
The FAA has been notified and the crash is under investigation.
Original article can be found here: http://www.desertsun.com
Aviation officials are investigating after an antique bi-plane experiencing engine trouble and a small fire crashed at Palm Springs International Airport Wednesday afternoon, sending two people to the hospital and damaging the Stearman aircraft.
The Boeing PT-17’s pilot radioed after taking off from the airport they were having engine problems and had to return, according to Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor.
Two people were on the plane, whose tail number is N63555. They crashed while landing at about 12:50 p.m. The plane was “substantially damaged,” Gregor reported.
FAA and National Transportation Safety Board officials are investigating.
The two-seat bi-planes were originally used as military trainers, barnstormers and crop dusters. The 1946 Boeing PT-17 is based at the Palm Springs Air Museum, an airport tenant.
The people got out of the plane on their own and were taken to the hospital, Palm Springs Deputy Fire Chief Ron Beverly said. He referred other questions to airport officials.
Palm Springs Air Museum spokeswoman Ann Greer disputed that the plane crashed as reported by the FAA.
“The plane had a hard landing,” Greer said. “It lost power.”
Airport Director Tom Nolan said he had no information about who was in the plane or the extent of possible injuries. The plane was “a little bumped up” but fully intact. Nolan didn’t know if the wheels were down during landing in the airport’s peak season.
The plane had a “disruption in power” and a small fire coming from the engine compartment as it landed “quite hard” on the runway, he said.
Greer couldn’t provide the pilots’ names. She didn’t know if they were staff or volunteers or if they were injured.
A crane lifted the plane onto a flatbed truck and the runway was cleared within 50 minutes, Nolan said.
No comments:
Post a Comment