Beechcraft A36 N769LW

Summary

On 21 April 1999 at about 21:43 local time, a Beechcraft A36 registered N769LW, operated by Joseph W. Camp, was involved in an accident near Courtland, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 April 1999 at 21:43

Classification

Accident

Location

Courtland, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Industrial Airpark (9A4)

Coordinates

34.6602, -87.3096

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36

Registration

N769LW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Joseph W. Camp

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Houston → Huntsville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA99LA137

1 person was seriously injured.

The failure of maintenance personnel from Signature Flight Support to assure that a cotter pin was installed at the air throttle assembly lever following installation of the overhauled fuel control valve onto the overhauled engine. This resulted in the partial loss of engine power due to the failure of the pilot to adjust the throttle control. A factor in the accident was the premature extension by the pilot of the landing gear which reduced the glide distance.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During cruise flight, throttle response was not possible and the engine rpm decreased to near idle. While descending for a forced landing with the landing gear extended, the pilot later stated that he could not recall the last several thousand feet of the descent. The airplane collided with trees then the ground. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a castellated nut which secures a lever onto the throttle plate shaft was loose by 10.5 turns of the 6 sided nut; no cotter pin was found. This condition would not allow movement of the throttle plate shaft with movement of the throttle control. Postaccident, the engine was removed from the airplane, placed in a test cell, and found to operate normally. Following collapse of the nose landing gear August 1998, the engine and fuel control valve were overhauled. Following the engine overhaul, the engine was test run. The air throttle assembly was then removed for shipping, the lever was loosened, and the engine and boxed air throttle assembly were shipped to where the airplane was being repaired. The air throttle assembly was installed on the engine which was installed into the airplane. The engine was then run and no engine related discrepancies were noted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.