Rawdon Bros T1 N2706D

Summary

On 2 November 2004 at about 17:16 local time, a Rawdon Bros T1 registered N2706D was involved in an accident near Pembroke Pines, Florida, 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

2 November 2004 at 17:16

Classification

Accident

Location

Pembroke Pines, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

North Perry Airport (HWO)

Coordinates

26.0014, -80.2406

Aircraft

Rawdon Bros T1

Registration

N2706D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pembroke Pines → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA05FA020

1 person died.

Improper maintenance by company maintenance personnel, and the pilot-in-command's operating the airplane with known deficiencies, which resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel system contamination, and a loss of control while maneuvering to return to the airport.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses stated that they saw the accident airplane initiate a normal takeoff from runway 09, and while at a low altitude during initial climb, they saw it make what appeared to be a left turn from going west, toward the north, and it suddenly descended nose down in a steep left turn and impacted the runway. The controller at the North Perry Airport control tower stated that after the airplane took off from runway 09R, and while it was climbing out at an altitude of about 100 feet he received a radio communications call from he pilot stating that he had an engine problem. The controller replied stating, "anything you want," and this was the last radio communication he had with the accident airplane. The controller stated that he observed the airplane in a left descending turn, and the airplane impacted the ground. A mechanic employed with the operator stated that the pilot had made an earlier flight, and when he landed, he exited the airplane, entered the hangar, and spoke with the maintenance manager about an engine problem he had experienced. The mechanic said that the accident airplane had a history of engine problems, and when the pilot returned there were two problems. One problem was smoke oil leaning on the windshield, and the second problem was the engine missing/sputtering and occasionally ceasing to operate in flight. He said he overheard the discussion between the pilot and the maintenance manager, and it pertained to the operation of the fuel system. During examination of the accident airplane debris was found in the carburetor bowl and in the carburetor float chamber. An electric fuel pump was found to contain a large quantity of debris in the fuel pump chamber.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.