Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

West Helena, Arkansas 72390
Wednesday, December 13, 1995 11:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was being ferried to West Helena, Arkansas, to accomplish an annual inspection. As it approached the destination airport, the pilot attempted to retard the power to enter the traffic pattern, but the power lever would not respond to any input. The pilot made three approaches in attempts to land, but was unable to slow the airplane below 135 knots. On his fourth approach, he elected to move the condition lever from flight idle to ground idle. However, it inadvertently went past the idle stop, and the engine lost power. The airplane landed short of the runway and impacted trees. An examination of the fuel control system revealed the fuel control linkage was corroded. The pilot reported that the airplane had been washed at the end of each day and that the control linkage had been lubricated on a regular basis. After the accident, he recommended the control linkage be lubricated daily, while working with fertilizer or any other corrosive material.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Binding of the power lever linkage, due to corrosion, which resulted in a situation that led to an inadvertent shut-down of the engine at a critical point on the approach to land. A factor relating to the accident was: inadequate maintenance.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/13/1995
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City WEST HELENA
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72390
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 12
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 5000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 22
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1876
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 13 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1855
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:51PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3090C
NTSB Number FTW96LA069
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 Ayres
Aircraft Model S2R-T34
Aircraft Series Identifier S2R-T34
Aircraft Serial Number T34-075DC
Certified Max Gross Weight 6000
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 6 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1000
Airframe Hours 8000
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MORRISON ENTERPRISES
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 609
Aircraft Owner City HASTINGS
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 68901
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 386
Operator City JONESVILLE
Operator State LA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 71343
Operator Code SEKG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
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) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City JONESVILLE
Departure State LA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code HEE
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
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 --