Bird CK N765N

Summary

On 31 August 2010 at about 14:30 local time, a Bird CK registered N765N, operated by Jenkins George Merritt, was involved in an accident near Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania, 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

31 August 2010 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Eagles Mere Field Airport (40PN)

Coordinates

41.3911, -76.6114

Aircraft

Bird CK

Registration

N765N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Jenkins George Merritt

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Eagles Mere → Eagles Mere

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10LA458

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of degradation of the fuel tank coating which blocked the fuel supply.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The antique biplane had recently undergone a complete restoration, including an overhaul of the engine. The accident flight was one of the first flights since the restoration was completed. After performing a preflight inspection, the pilot departed from the runway and during the takeoff climb, the engine "coughed," several times. The pilot checked the engine instruments and evaluated the engine condition, while remaining in the traffic pattern. After noticing no anomalies with the engine instruments, the pilot decided to fly to another airport, about 4 miles away. He landed uneventfully and taxied back for departure. Upon takeoff, as the airplane was about 3/4 down the runway, and at an altitude of about 150 feet, the engine lost power completely. The pilot was unable to land straight ahead due to trees and terrain, and decided to return to the airport. During the turn, the airplane stalled, and impacted the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed that during the restoration, the inside of the fuel tank was coated with an FAA approved product specifically designed for sealing older fuel tanks. This coating peeled off in large sheets and collected in the sump of the tank, blocking the fuel supply to the carburetor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.