Dietrich NIEUPORT 12 N169RD

Summary

On 29 June 1997 at about 19:36 local time, a Dietrich NIEUPORT 12 registered N169RD was involved in an accident near Byron, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 June 1997 at 19:36

Classification

Accident

Location

Byron, Michigan, United States

Coordinates

42.8209, -83.9399

Aircraft

Dietrich NIEUPORT 12

Registration

N169RD

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI97LA190

1 person was seriously injured.

The owner/pilot mechanic's inadequate inspection of the aircraft which led to contamination (other than water) of the fuel filter.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said that the accident flight was the first flight following repairs made to the engine. He indicated that while preparing the airplane for the flight, several 'mud-wasp' nests were found and removed. He said that during the initial climb the engine began to lose power. The airplane was able to clear trees 300' beyond the end of the runway; however then encountered a stall/spin into trees and the terrain. Contamination was found in the left fuel filter which the pilot indicated in all likelihood came from an insect nest which was not cleared from the fuel line after the repairs.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.