ADDISON, TX, USA
N13WM
GARDNER VARIEZE
WHILE ON A 1.5 MILE FINAL APPROACH AT ADDISON AIRPORT (ADS) THE PILOT WAS REQUESTED BY THE TOWER CONTROLLER TO SLOW DOWN FOR TRAFFIC SEQUENCING. POWER WAS REDUCED TO SLOW DOWN. AS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE THROTTLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, HE NOTICED IT WAS 'JAMMED.' PRIOR TO REDUCING POWER, THE PILOT SAW THAT THE KNOB ASSEMBLY OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER HAD 'DROPPED OFF.' DURING A LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A BERM. EXAMINATION OF THE THROTTLE QUADRANT REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL HAD BECOME MISALIGNED. WHEN THE THROTTLE CONTROL WAS ALIGNED, THE THROTTLE WOULD MOVE FULL TRAVEL FORE AND AFT.
On April 8, 1995, at 1440 central standard time, a Gardner VariEze, N13WM, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Addison, Texas. The private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector the following information. He was on a 1.5 mile final approach at Addison Airport (ADS) and was requested by the tower controller to slow down for traffic sequencing. "Shortly" before reducing power he saw that the knob assembly of the throttle control lever had "dropped off." As he attempted to increase throttle to maintain altitude, he noticed it was "jammed." The airplane was at 1000 feet and descending; therefore, he made the decision to land in an open field. During the landing roll the airplane struck a berm damaging the landing gear, main gear fuselage attaching points, and the right wing. The pilot further reported that examination of the throttle quadrant revealed that the throttle control had become misaligned when the knob assembly "dropped off." When the throttle control was aligned, the throttle would move full travel fore and aft.
THE JAMMED THROTTLE. FACTORS WERE THE KNOB BECOMING LOOSE AND SEPARATING FROM THE THROTTLE LEVER, AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AVAILABLE FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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