De Havilland DHC-1B-2 N42597

Summary

On 19 November 1993 at about 18:53 local time, a De Havilland DHC-1B-2 registered N42597 was involved in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 November 1993 at 18:53

Classification

Accident

Location

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

North Las Vegas Airport (VGT)

Coordinates

36.1907, -115.3092

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC-1B-2

Registration

N42597

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX94LA051

1 person died.

Were the fuel injection line contamination resulting in fuel starvation; the pilot's inadequate 100-hour inspection; the pilot's improper decision to return to the airport at a low altitude; and his failure to maintain the proper airspeed which resulted in a stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT, WHO IS ALSO AN AIRFRAME AND POWERPLANT MECHANIC, WAS CONDUCTING A LOCAL AREA MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT. THE ENGINE BEGAN MISFIRING SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT EXECUTED A RIGHT TURN TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, BUT INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN SHARPLY AND CRASHED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED THAT THE FUEL INLET PASSAGE WAS CLOGGED WITH AN UNIDENTIFIED BLACK, SPONGE-LIKE MATERIAL. THIS CONDITION PREVENTED FUEL FROM GETTING TO THE FUEL INJECTOR ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION. ALSO, TWO OF THE FUEL INJECTOR NOZZLE SCREENS WERE OBSTRUCTED; THE REMAINING SCREENS WERE PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED. A FIXED-BASE OPERATOR AND THE REGISTERED OWNER REPORTED THAT THE FUEL NOZZLES HAD RECURRING CLOGGING. THE PILOT WAS COMPLETING A 100-HOUR INSPECTION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED EXTENSIVE FRETTING OF BOTH CRANKCASE HALVES AND ALL OF THE CYLINDERS BASES. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION, HOWEVER, DID NOT REVEAL ANY ABNORMALITIES WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE ENGINE FROM PRODUCING POWER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.