Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542
Tuesady, June 7, 1994 15:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE CRUISING AT 2300 FEET, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A DROP IN ENGINE RPM. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ENGINE RPM DROPPED FROM 2500 TO 1500; ATTEMPTS BY THE PILOT TO RESTORE FULL POWER FAILED. THE PILOT SELECTED A NEARBY FIELD FOR THE FORCED LANDING. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE USED THE MAGNETO SWITCH TO CONTROL THE 1500 RPM AVAILABLE FOR THE APPROACH AND FORCED LANDING. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE AT THE CARBURETOR WAS DISCONNECTED. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE CARBURETOR WAS OVERHAULED AND INSTALLED ON THE ENGINE TWO FLIGHT HOURS BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT. THE THROTTLE LINKAGE IS NORMALLY SECURED TO THE CARBURETOR WITH A BOLT, A NUT,AND A SAFETY COTTER PIN; THESE ITEMS WERE NOT RECOVERED FOR EXAMINATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY SECURE THE THROTTLE LINKAGE ASSEMBLY THAT RESULTED IN A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/7/1994
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1510
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City FLOWERY BRANCH
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30542
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1447 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 250
Weather Observation Facility ID PDK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1002
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 5500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2500
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 875
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 7 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:25AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3882L
NTSB Number ATL94LA115
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 17254051
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 24 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 4024
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PIANOWSKI, STEVE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 60710 NEAMAN ROAD
Aircraft Owner City THREE RIVERS
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49092
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MATHIS, CLAUDY J.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4328 HWY 120
Operator City DULUTH
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30136
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1445
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --