Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Evans, West Virginia 25241
Sunday, May 20, 1990 17:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT REPORTED THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PLT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING ON OPEN FIELD, BUT AT 50 FT AGL THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THE PLT STARTED CLIMBING, BUT SOON AFTERWARDS THE ENGINE LOST POWER AGAIN. THE PLT LANDED IN TREES WHERE THE ACFT CAME TO REST IN A NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE MOLDED-CELLULAR TYPE CARBURETOR FLOAT WAS CHAFING AGAINST THE INTERNAL WALLS OF ITS CHAMBER. AUTOGAS WAS USED IN THE ACFT. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS IN EFFECT WHICH INDICATED INSTANCES THAT THE MOLDED-CELLULAR TYPE FLOATS HAD ABSORBED FLUID. THE BULLETIN RECOMMENDED CHANGING TO METAL FLOATS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DUE TO CARBURETOR FLOAT CHAFFING RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FAILURE OF THE OPERATOR TO COMPLY WITH A SERVICE BULLETIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/20/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City EVANS
Event State WEST VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 25241
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 5
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1655 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID PKB
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1212
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 21 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42574
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:57PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2411G
NTSB Number BFO90LA048
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 182
Aircraft Series Identifier 182
Aircraft Serial Number 51711
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 5 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 3229
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BRUFFEY FLYING INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2623 27TH AVE.
Aircraft Owner City PARKERSBURG
Aircraft Owner State WV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 26101
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHN BRUFFEY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2623 27TH AVE
Operator City PARKERSBURG
Operator State WV
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 26101
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code I18
Departure City RAVENSWOOD
Departure State WV
Departure Country
Departure Time 1640
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 Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --