Steinke EARLY BIRD N593JN

Summary

On 23 July 1995 at about 18:00 local time, a Steinke EARLY BIRD registered N593JN was involved in an accident near Akron, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 July 1995 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Akron, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Washington County (AKO)

Coordinates

40.1597, -103.2095

Aircraft

Steinke EARLY BIRD

Registration

N593JN

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Benkelman

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW95LA313

Nobody was injured.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRPLANE FOR LANDING DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENTS WERE: A MALFUNCTION OF THE SIDE RAVE VALVE, AN EXCESSIVELY RICH FUEL MIXTURE, AND THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT SAID THAT DURING TAKEOFF FROM AN EN ROUTE STOP ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT FELT SLUGGISH AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE AND THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO PRODUCE SUFFICIENT POWER TO REMAIN IN THE AIR. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE WHICH WAS HARD. REPORTEDLY, THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND DRIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY, WHERE IT TOUCHED DOWN, SHEARING OFF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AND NOSED OVER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A ROTORY ENGINE. EXAMINATION OF THE ROTORY ENGINE PROVIDED EVIDENCE THAT THE PTO SIDE RAVE VALVE MAY HAVE STUCK SHUT, LIMITING MAXIMUM RPM. ALSO, THE MIXTURE (WHICH WAS ADJUSTABLE ON THE GROUND) WAS SET SO THAT THE CARBURETOR JETTING WAS TOO RICH FOR THE DENSITY ALTITUDE. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE AIRPORT WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,200 FEET AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.