ARNOLD, NE, USA
N7282K
PIPER PA-18
A PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS BOARDED A TWO-SEAT AIRPLANE. ONE PASSENGER KNELT BEHIND THE REAR SEAT, PLACING THE AIRPLANE AT ITS REAR CG LIMIT. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED A MILE FROM ITS FARM STRIP, IN A TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, BUT CUTTING OUT. NEARING 180 DEGREES OF TURN, THE AIRPLANE ABRUPTLY PITCHED DOWN AND DESCENDED TO GROUND IMPACT. NO AIRFRAME DISCREPANCY WAS FOUND. THE ENGINE APPEARED TO BE RUNNING RICH DUE TO CARBURETOR FLOAT MALADJUSTMENT. AUTO GAS DRAWN FROM THE FARM'S FUEL SUPPLY WAS STALE AND CONTAINED WATER.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE CARBURETOR FLOAT LEVEL BY AN UNKNOWN PERSON, AND THE PILOT'S DISREGARDING WEIGHT-AND-BALANCE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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