T51 T51 N332BC

Summary

On 25 March 2009 at about 19:30 local time, a T51 T51 registered N332BC, operated by Craig M. Muth, was involved in an accident near Lake Wales, Florida, United States. 2 people were 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

25 March 2009 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake Wales, Florida, United States

Coordinates

27.8903, -81.6253

Aircraft

T51 T51

Registration

N332BC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Craig M. Muth

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Pierce → Mulberry

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09LA221

Nobody was injured.

A partial loss of engine power due to the carburetor not being secured to its mounting pad.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the amateur-built airplane stated he was in cruise flight at 700 feet when the engine appeared to reduce to idle power. He pulled the throttle back initially, and then applied power, and the engine appeared to respond to the throttle application. The pilot began maneuvering for a forced landing to a highway, but during the process the engine reduced to idle power again, requiring the pilot to land in a field instead. On touchdown, the main landing gear separated and the airplane came to rest in a nose-down position. Examination of the engine revealed that the carburetor was loose from its mounting pad, which could result in a partial or total loss of engine power. The owner of the airplane stated that the last condition inspection on the airplane was completed about 1 year prior to the accident and that he did not verify that the carburetor was properly installed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.