Tanner Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Roberts, Idaho 83444
Saturday, September 18, 2010 9:10 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot, who was also the airplane's owner, reported that the engine of the experimental amateur-built airplane experienced a partial loss of power while turning onto the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern after the initial takeoff climb. The pilot initiated a return to the runway, during which time the engine lost all power. The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to restart the engine and subsequently performed an off-airport landing. The airplane's right main landing gear collapsed during the landing roll, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. Examination of the engine revealed that the left carburetor was detached from the engine inlet manifold. The impact trajectory, coupled with a lack of witness marks indicating the carburetor had struck any part of the airplane, make it most likely that the carburetor detached in flight. The owner/pilot reported that he had experienced excessive engine vibration and "kickback" during prior startups. He had considered a number of remedial measures to rectify the problem, but had not performed any of these measures prior to the accident flight. He additionally reported that he could have reduced the likelihood of the carburetor separating by more thoroughly examining the tension of its mounting hardware.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to the detachment of the left carburetor from the engine inlet manifold. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to address a known engine vibration.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/18/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 910
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Roberts
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83444
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 434307n
Event Location Longitude 1120714w
Event Location Airport Tanner Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
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 --
Airport Elevation 4775
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 853 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID IDE
Elevation of weather observation facility 4744
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28157
NTSB Notification Source FAA FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 24 2011 5:44PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4427M
NTSB Number WPR10LA483
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BOAM
Aircraft Model RANS S-6S
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 08031518-S
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Jul 19 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 429
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name BOAM LARRY
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City RIGBY
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83442-5632
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name BOAM LARRY
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City RIGBY
Operator State ID
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 83442-5632
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 PVT
Departure City Roberts
Departure State ID
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 910
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code U56
Destination City Rigby
Destination State ID
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 24 2011 5:45PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 20
Runway Length 1500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --