FLORIDA CITY, FL, USA
N4506K
WSK PZL Mielec PZL-M-18
AFTER MANEUVERING, THE ENG EXPERIENCED A NEAR TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PLT APPLIED FULL THROTTLE BUT THE ENG FAILED TO RESPOND. HE OPENED THE VALVE TO DUMP THE CHEMICAL & WHILE DESCENDING, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN. THE ACFT THEN CAME TO REST IN A FIELD. EXAM OF THE ENG ASSY REVEALED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE OIL SUMP WAS LOOSE. THIS ALLOWED AN EXCESSIVELY LEAN FUEL/AIR MIXTURE WHICH WAS VERIFIED BY VISUAL EXAMINATION OF THE SPARK PLUGS. REVIEW OF THE ENG LOGBOOK REVEALED THAT THE ENG WAS INSTALLED ON APRIL 5, 1989. THERE WERE NO ENTRIES INDICATING THAT THE CARBURETOR ASSY WAS REMOVED SINCE THE ENG WAS INSTALLED.
PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A LOOSE INTAKE MANIFOLD. ALSO, IMPROPER MAINTENANCE BY AN UNKNOWN PERSON.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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