20080920846519A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Strman C3B · Stevenson, WA · September 20, 2008

Date: September 20, 2008 · 09:43 local
Place: Stevenson, WA
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3440
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA08LA206
Reported as: Strman C3B
Reported engine: Continental W6706N
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 24,232 total110 in this make and model150 in the last 90 days

N3440Registered now · Stearman C2S/N 104 · Built 1927 Airframe modelStearman C2 Engine modelAustro E4 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On Saturday, September 20, 2008 at approximately 0945 local time, the PIC on N3440 was en-route from aurora airport (uao) to felts field (sff) when the engine began to run rough and quit. The PIC said he had carburetor heat on prior to the engine roughness based on prior experience with flying in the columbia gorge. The PIC tried switching magnetos and switching fuel tanks prior to the engine completely quitting. The PIC selected a field, but after committing to the field, he noticed it had a steep slope. The PIC tried to land on a road near the field, but realized he was going to hit a tree so he banked the aircraft to the right striking the road with the lower right wing, then hitting the tree on the left wing. The aircraft was located 20 feet off erickson road, six miles northeast of Stevenson, WA and a 1/3 mile north of route 14.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2008 AT APPROXIMATELY 0945 LOCAL TIME, THE PIC ON N3440 WAS EN-ROUTE FROM AURORA AIRPORT (UAO) TO FELTS FIELD (SFF) WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND QUIT. THE PIC SAID HE HAD CARBURETOR HEAT ON PRIOR TO THE ENGINE ROUGHNESS BASED ON PRIOR EXPERIENCE WITH FLYING IN THE COLUMBIA GORGE. THE PIC TRIED SWITCHING MAGNETOS AND SWITCHING FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO THE ENGINE COMPLETELY QUITTING. THE PIC SELECTED A FIELD, BUT AFTER COMMITTING TO THE FIELD, HE NOTICED IT HAD A STEEP SLOPE. THE PIC TRIED TO LAND ON A ROAD NEAR THE FIELD, BUT REALIZED HE WAS GOING TO HIT A TREE SO HE BANKED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT STRIKING THE ROAD WITH THE LOWER RIGHT WING, THEN HITTING THE TREE ON THE LEFT WING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED 20 FEET OFF ERICKSON ROAD, SIX MILES NORTHEAST OF STEVENSON, WA AND A 1/3 MILE NORTH OF ROUTE 14.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB SEA08LA206Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportStevenson, WAA loss of engine power due to fuel starvation from a piece of disintegrating gasket material that was blocking the fuel jet. Also causal was the failure of maintenance personnel to verify the condition of the gaskets when the carburetor was examined prior to…Sep 20, 2008 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N3440 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 20110716013929ALanding: Rollout · Spokane, WAATP pilot lost control of a conventional landing gear airplane after landing on runway 21L at sff resulting in ground loop.Jul 16, 2011 · Reported as Stearman C3-B · Substantial damage