Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Stinson Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
San Antonio, Texas 78214
Saturday, November 16, 2013 10:45 CST
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The pilot reported that, after advancing the airplane’s throttle to full power for takeoff, the engine produced “normal thrust,” the airspeed reached 60 mph, and the tachometer indicated 2,700 rpm. The acceleration was smooth and all indications were normal when the airplane reached rotation. About 600 feet above the ground, the airplane’s nose began to lower, the airspeed remained 60 mph, and the tachometer indicated 2,000 rpm. The pilot pitched the nose down to prevent a stall and ensured that the throttle and mixture controls were full forward and that the electric fuel pump was on. He reported to the air traffic controller that the airplane’s engine was not producing sufficient power and that he was returning to the runway. Shortly after the radio transmission, the airplane impacted terrain and a tree.
An examination of the airplane’s engine revealed a fuel stain on the carburetor inlet, indicating that the airflow through the carburetor had been decreased. The carburetor induction air inlet duct was single-thickness scat-type ducting, which was not the material described for the part, which should have been installed in accordance with a manufacturer’s service bulletin. The material appeared to be beyond its normal service life with frayed edges and loose strings, and most of the wire was loose and separated from the duct. Further, the carburetor air inlet duct appeared to have been compressed due to negative air pressure during high engine rpm, which would have restricted the airflow to the engine and reduced the engine power. The No. 2 cylinder and its associated spark plugs contained dark sooting, likely due to the restricted airflow, which resulted in a rich fuel/air mixture inside the cylinder. The airplane was 12 days overdue for an annual inspection; the improper, damaged air duct could have been identified during the inspection.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
A partial loss of engine power after departure due to the collapse of the carburetor air inlet duct, which restricted the airflow to the engine. Contributing to the accident was the overdue annual inspection and the installation of the improper air inlet duct.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 11/16/2013 |
| Event Day of the Week | Saturday |
| Time of Event | 1045 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Standard Time |
| Event City | San Antonio |
| Event State | TEXAS |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 78214 |
| Event Date Year | 2013 |
| Event Date Month | 11 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 291958N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0982745W |
| Event Location Airport | STINSON MUNI |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | SSF |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 1 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | 130 |
| Airport Elevation | 577 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1048 Central Standard Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 307 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | KSSF |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 577 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 0 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CST |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 3500 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Clear |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | Broken |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 26 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 18 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 180 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 10 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29.89 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | SPECI KSSF 161648Z 18010KT 10SM BKN035 26/18 A2989 |
| Event Highest Injury | Serious |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | 0 |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | 0 |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | 1 |
| Injury Total All | 1 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 33343 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA ROC |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Oct 8 2014 5:35PM |
| User who most recently changed record | linj-i |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N57DB |
| NTSB Number | CEN14LA058 |
| 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 | PIPER |
| Aircraft Model | PA 28-140 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 28-25595 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2150 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | 2 |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | 2 |
| 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 | Nov 4 2012 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | 3877 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | Yes |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | Unknown |
| Aircraft Owner Name | David H Barnhart |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | SAN ANTONIO |
| Aircraft Owner State | TX |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 782541819 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | David H Barnhart |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | SAN ANTONIO |
| Operator State | TX |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 782541819 |
| Operator Code | -- |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | -- |
| 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 | SSF |
| Departure City | San Antonio |
| Departure State | TX |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1020 |
| Departure Time Zone | CST |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | PEZ |
| Destination City | PLEASANTON |
| Destination State | TX |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Oct 8 2014 5:20PM |
| User who most recently changed record | linj-i |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 14 |
| Runway Length | 4128 |
| Runway Width | 100 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |