Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Thompsons, Texas 77481
Sunday, October 19, 1997 18:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The CFI was monitoring the private pilot during practice of unusual attitude recovery maneuvers. During the set up for a maneuver, a power reduction was made from climb power to nearly idle. As the throttle was added to full power, the engine lost power and did not respond. Several attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The instructor pilot monitored the descent as the private pilot tried to set up for a forced landing to a road. When the intended landing point was overshot, the CFI took control of the airplane, maneuvered between several trees, and set the aircraft down hard in a pasture. Disassembly of the carburetor revealed that the float attachment bracket was found detached and separated from the carburetor bowl assembly. Aircraft records showed that a carburetor float kit had been installed on May 7, 1996. Tap screws were used to attach the float attachment brackets to the carburetor bowl, thus stripping out the holes for the attachment brackets. Manufacturer's installation instructions outlined that set screws should have been used on the attachment brackets. Also, what appeared to be glue residue was found on the threads of the tap screws.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power resulting from a disconnected carburetor float due to improper maintenance. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/19/1997
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City THOMPSONS
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77481
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 10
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 8
Degrees magnetic from airport 217
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1850 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID KGL
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1284
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 20 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2038
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:37PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N10DG
NTSB Number FTW98LA026
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 182P
Aircraft Series Identifier 182P
Aircraft Serial Number 18262608
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 May 7 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GEORGE T. BUTLER
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 5 BOX 412
Aircraft Owner City RUSK
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75785
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SKYLINE AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 503 MCKEEVER RD #1518
Operator City ARCOLA
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 77583
Operator Code N/A
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code AHX
Departure City HOUSTON
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1720
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code AHX
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 10:30AM
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 --