Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
http://registry.faa.gov/N7620B
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia
Commemorative Air Force; Peachtree City, Georgia
NTSB Identification: ERA16LA172
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, April 30, 2016 in Tyrone, GA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 05/25/2017
Aircraft: CHAMPION 7BCM, registration: N7620B
Injuries: 2 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.
The airline transport pilot was conducting a revenue sightseeing flight with one passenger onboard. During cruise flight, while the airplane was level at 3,000 ft mean sea level, the engine began to lose power. The pilot applied carburetor heat with no improvement; the engine speed remained at 2,000 rpm. He then turned the carburetor heat off and checked the magnetos and noted no significant change in performance. He then reapplied carburetor heat with no improvement; the pilot left the heat on for the remainder of the flight. The airplane would not maintain altitude, so he conducted a forced landing in a grass field. After touchdown, the airplane nosed down in high vegetation, and the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained structural damage to the forward fuselage and engine firewall.
Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation, and there was sufficient fuel onboard at the time of the accident. Although the weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power, the pilot applied carburetor heat twice, which should have melted any existing ice, but power was not restored. Therefore, the investigation could not determine the reason for the partial loss of engine power.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
A partial loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
On April 30, 2016, about 1057 eastern daylight time, a Champion 7BCM, N7620B, was substantially damaged following a partial loss of engine power and forced landing to a grass field in Tyrone, Georgia. The airline transport pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to a corporation and was operated by the Dixie Wing of the Commemorative Air Force under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a revenue sightseeing flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight from Atlanta Regional Airport – Falcon Field (FFC), Peachtree City, Georgia originated about 1040.
According to the pilot, the airplane was level at 3,000 feet above mean sea level when the engine began to lose power. He selected carburetor heat and no improvement was observed; the engine speed remained at 2,000 rpm. Carburetor heat was then turned off. The magnetos were checked and there was no significant change in performance noted. Carburetor heat was re-applied with no improvement; the pilot left it on for the remainder of the flight. The airplane would not maintain altitude, so the pilot configured the airplane for a forced landing in a field. After touchdown, the airplane nosed down in high vegetation and the main landing gear collapsed. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane and were assisted by first responders.
An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The airplane came to rest upright. Structural damage to the engine firewall and forward fuselage was evident. The main landing gear was collapsed under the airframe. The fuselage-mounted fuel tank contained an adequate amount of fuel. An initial cursory examination of the engine revealed no evidence of a mechanical failure.
The wreckage was recovered to the operator's facility for additional examination. The examination was conducted by two FAA inspectors and the NTSB investigator-in-charge. The engine was found intact and still attached to the airframe by the engine mount. External examination of the engine case and cylinders revealed no evidence of rupture or breach. All four top spark plugs were removed. The electrodes were normal in wear when compared to a Champion Check-A-Plug chart. The electrodes were coated with a thin layer of black soot. The engine was turned through manually using the propeller. Suction and compression were observed on all cylinders and valve action was correct. The carburetor was removed and disassembled. The fuel bowl was clean and free of contaminants. No water was noted. The bowl contained a small amount of clean fuel that was light blue in color. All carburetor components were normal in appearance. The air intake to the carburetor was unobstructed. The magnetos were turned manually and produced a spark at all leads. The ignition harness was normal in appearance with no fraying or cuts noted.
According to the 1053 weather observation at FFC, located about 7 miles south of the accident site, the temperature and dew point were 79 degrees F and 63 degrees F, respectively. According to the carburetor icing probability chart in FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 (Carburetor Icing Prevention), dated June 30, 2009, the temperature/dew point at the time of the accident was in the area of serious icing at glide power.
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, April 30, 2016 in Tyrone, GA
Aircraft: CHAMPION 7BCM, registration: N7620B
Injuries: 2 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. 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 April 30, 2016, about 1057 eastern daylight time, a Champion 7BCM, N7620B, was substantially damaged following a partial loss of engine power and forced landing at Tyrone, Georgia. The airline transport pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to a corporation and was operated by the Commemorative Air Force under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a revenue sightseeing flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight from Atlanta Regional Airport (FFC), Peachtree City, Georgia originated about 1040.
According to the pilot, the airplane was level at 3,000 feet above mean sea level when the engine began to lose power. The pilot selected carburetor heat and no improvement was observed; the engine speed remained at 2,000 rpm. Carburetor heat was then turned off. The magnetos were checked and there was no significant change in performance noted. Carburetor heat was re-applied with no improvement; the pilot left it on for the remainder of the flight. The airplane would not maintain altitude, so the pilot configured the airplane for a forced landing in a hay field. After touchdown, the airplane bogged down in high vegetation and nosed down, collapsing the main landing gear. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane and were assisted by first responders.
An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The airplane came to rest upright. Structural damage to the engine firewall and forward fuselage was evident. The main landing gear were collapsed under the airframe. The fuselage-mounted fuel tank contained fuel. A cursory visual examination of the engine revealed no evidence of a mechanical failure.
The wreckage was retained for further examination.
A vintage World War II military observation plane crash-landed safely April 30 in a pasture off Ellison Road in north Fayette County. The pilot and passenger were uninjured in the crash.
Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services (FES) Deputy Fire Chief Tom Bartlett said the single-engine plane came down in a pasture and gas line right-of-way on the 400-block of Ellison Road at approximately 11 a.m. with no injuries to the pilot and passenger.
Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing public information officer Col. Steve Forsyth said the plane was a 1947 Aeronca L16 military observation plane that had been refurbished in Peachtree City and had been flying for the past eight years.
The plane was flown by Dixie Wing member and pilot Truitt Harper, of Hiram, Forsyth said.
The passenger was Macon resident Clara Peters, who was at the Heritage Days event with a re-enactor, Forsyth said.
Bartlett said the pilot lost power and was in contact with Falcon Field, adding that he described the area he hoped to land.
Falcon Filed contacted Fayette 911 and the homeowner was contacted and relayed information about the exact location.
Forsyth said the plane was one of several flying and giving rides to passengers at the CAF Dixie Wing World War II Heritage Days event held April 30.
Original article can be found here: http://thecitizen.com
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