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| Date: | Sunday 26 March 1989 |
| Time: | 16:49 LT |
| Type: |  Boeing A75N1 |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N55530 |
| MSN: | 75-4472 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1943 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 5289 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming R-680-B4E |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Covington, GA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE GRADUALLY BEGAN TO LOSE PWR JUST AFTER TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DESCEND, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED INTO TREES NEAR THE END OF THE RWY. A POST-CRASH EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE CARB HEAT CONTROL WAS IN THE 'HOT' POSITION. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT USE CARB HEAT DURING THE FLT, OR DURING PRE-FLT RUN-UP. FURTHER EXAM OF THE ACFT AFTER REMOVAL FROM THE CRASH SITE REVEALED IMPACT-RELATED MARKS ON CARB-HEAT CONTROL PUSH-PULL ROD SYSTEM, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE CONTROL WAS IN THE 'HOT' POSITION AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE CARB HEAT CONTROL WAS NOT READILY VISIBLE TO THE PLT, DUE TO ITS LOCATION. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PRE-EXISTING MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. NO EVIDENCE OF CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND IN THE AIRPLANE FUEL SUPPLY OR SYSTEM. THE AMBIENT AIR TEMP WAS RPRTD TO BE 80 DEG; THE DENSITY ALT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 2700 FT.
Probable Cause: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT BY INADVERTENTLY ALLOWING THE CARBURETOR HEAT TO BE IN THE 'HOT' POSITION FOR TAKEOFF. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND TREES WERE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB ATL89FA114
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Mar-2024 10:05 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
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