Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary MIA91LA128

JACKSONVILLE, FL, USA

Aircraft #1

N4FD

DONALD L. HEDEMAN SONERAI-II

Analysis

WITNESSES STATED ENG DID NOT SOUND AS IF IT WAS PRODUCING FULL POWER ON TAKEOFF. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENG QUIT. AS THE PLT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING ON AN ALLEY THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD IN A RIGHT SLIP. THE ACFT THEN BOUNCED INTO THE AIR, TRAVELED 80 FEET, COLLIDED WITH A TELEPHONE POLE, AND CAME TO REST. AFTER THE ACCIDENT A LARGE AMOUNT OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL LEAKED FROM THE RUPTURED FUEL TANK AND LINES. EXAM OF THE ENG AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THE SPARK PLUGS, PISTONS, AND CYLINDERS HAD EXCESSIVE BLACK SOOT DEPOSITS. THE CARB IDLE ADJUSTING SCREW WAS STRIPPED AND THE MIXTURE CONTROL SCREW HAD RECENT TOOLING MARKS ON IT. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OPERATING WITH A RICH FUEL MIXTURE AND THAT THE PILOT HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST IT TO THE PROPER SETTING.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE CARBURETOR.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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