19980713030809A

(.19)On July 13, 1998, at 1645 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt piel Emeraude, N86WB, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after a loss of engine power near Hillsville, Virginia. The certificated airline transport pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated a elkin, north carolina (zef), at 1615, destined for clarksburg, west Virginia (ckb). A visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. According to a federal aviation administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector, the pilot reported he had just purchased the airplane and was flying it to his home base at ckb. In cruise flight at 3,500 feet, the pilot attempted to adjust the mixture and encountered increasing and decreasing engine power. According to the inspector's report: "after readjusting the mixture to a full rich setting and applying full carburetor heat, the pilot stated that the engine speed recovered to 2400 RPM for a short time before decreasing again to approximately 800 RPM without any inputs to the throttle, mixture, or carburetor heat controls. The pilot stated that after the second decrease in engine RPM, he made a decision to find a suitable landing area." During the approach to a field the airplane's propeller struck a power line. After touchdown, the airplane continued approximately 300 to 400 feet before it struck a fence and several trees. Examination of the wreckage was conducted by an FAA inspector at the site. Control continuity could not be established due to impact damage. According to the inspector's report: "initial examination of the aircraft engine revealed continuity of engine movement from the front of the crankshaft to the accessory drive and spark plugs in good condition...a fuel sample was obtained from the fuel strainer drain revealing large amounts of scale type debris. Upon removing the fuel strainer bowl, extreme amounts of scale type debris of a rust and dirt was discovered." In a telephone interview, the FAA inspector said, "we pulled the fuel strainer and it looked like someone dumped their coffee grounds in there." The pilot reported an annual inspection was completed on the airplane in may, 1998. (.4) the pilot reported he had just purchased the airplane and was flying to his home base. While in cruise flight, the pilot experienced surges of engine power between full and idle power. After the second decrease in engine RPM, the pilot selected a forced landing area. During the approach to a field the airplane's propeller struck a power line. After touchdown, the airplane continued approximately 300 to 400 feet before it struck a fence and several trees. An examination of the wreckage by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed `extreme' amounts of debris in the fuel strainer bowl. Examination of the maintenance records revealed an annual inspection had been recorded by an FAA certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic 4.5 aircraft hours prior to the accident. The previous owner revealed to the FAA inspector that he had performed the inspection and forged the mechanic's signature in the maintenance logbook. (-23) pilot departed elkin municipal airport (zef), elkin, NC, at approximately 1615 local, enroute to clarksburg, WV (ckb). In the vicinity of Hillsville, VA, at approximately 3500' MSL, the pilot stated that the engine RPM became extremely erratic, fluctuating between 800 & 2400 rmp. On approach to a pasture field, the propeller struck a power line causing damage to the propeller with little or no effect in aircraft attitude. The aircraft touched down in the field approximately 300'-400' prior to contacting a barb wire fence and numerous large trees. Damage included empennage and both wings being separated from fuselage as well as other substantial damage to fuselage.