# Incident 20110926023809I: Canadian Car & Foundry HARVARD MK IV, Thatcher, AZ, September 26, 2011

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 26, 2011, 08:50 local time
- Place: Thatcher, AZ
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.8113° N, 109.7668° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Thatcher, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8113&lon=-109.7668&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2047, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2047) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Canadian Car & Foundry HARVARD MK IV (registry code 1922828, https://openairdocs.org/model/canadian-car-foundry-harvard-mk-iv) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CANADIAN CAR & FOUNDRY HARVARD MK IV
- Reported engine: P&W R1340 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total, 139 in this make and model, 47 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110926023809I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AT 0715 LCL, ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2011, N2047 DEPARTED BUCKEYE AZ (BXK) ENROUTE TO SANTA TERESA NM (5T6). DURING LEVEL CRUISE AT 9500' MSL AND APPROXIMATELY 10 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF SAFFORD AZ (SAD), THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND STARTED "POPPING AND BACKFIRING". THE PILOT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS, THEN ADJUSTED MIXTURE, THEN ADJUSTED THROTTLE, AND THEN APPLIED ALTERNATE AIR/CARB HEAT. ALL HAD NO AFFECT ON THE DETERIORATING PERFORMANCE OF THE ENGINE. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE LOW FUEL PRESSURE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE IT TO SAD BUT DUE TO CONTINUED DETERIORATION OF ENGINE PERFORMANCE, WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN INTENTIONAL GEAR-UP LANDING IN A COTTON FIELD IN THATCHER AZ AT 0850 LCL. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE, MOSTLY TO THE ENGINE COWLING AND OTHER NON-STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS INCLUDING A MOCK BOMB ATTACHED TO THE BELLY OF THE AIRCRAFT. BOTH BLADES OF THE TWO BLADED PROP WERE BENT AFT AND SOME MINOR DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE ENGINE BY THE ENGINE COWLING COLLAPSING IN ON IT. THE AIRCRAFT IS OWNED/OPERATED BY THE AMERICAN AIRPOWER HERITAGE FLYING MUSEUM, A.K.A. THE COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE. THE DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE WAS AT THE SCENE AND STATED THAT A FUEL SAMPLE WAS TAKEN AND NO CONTAMINATION WAS PRESENT. DURING THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION BY THE FAA, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED 20 GALLONS OF FUEL AND THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS AT THE "RESERVE" LEVEL. THE OWNER/OPERATOR WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE AND PROP AND SEND THE ENGINE AND ALL ENGINE DRIVEN ACCESSORIES OUT FOR OVERHAUL/REPAIR. ANY FINDINGS DURING THE TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE ACCESSORIES, FUEL PUMP, CARBURETOR ETC. WILL BE PROVIDED TO THIS INSPECTOR.10/26/2011 - DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE, JAMES WOODFORD, CONTACTED THIS OFFICE AND INFORMED US THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN SENT TO COVINGTON A/C ENGINES FOR TEAR-DOWN AND INSPECTION. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE #7 EXHAUST PUSH ROD HAD FAILED AND THAT THIS HAD CAUSED THE INDUCTION SYSTEM TO BECOME CHARGED WITH EXHAUST GASES, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER AND QUIT RUNNING.

## Other reports on N2047 (2)

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

- [Incident 20081031850679I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081031850679I), Oct 31, 2008: Canadi HARVARDMKIV (N2047), San Marcos, TX, Minor damage. (-23) Upon entering the pattern at Stinson municipal airport in san antonio, TX, the commercial pilot observed an unsafe gear indication. He abandoned the…
- [Incident 20080324833599I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080324833599I), Mar 24, 2008: Namer HARVARDMK4 (N2047), San Marcos, TX, Minor damage. (-23) The aircraft landed gear up during training. The aircraft received minimal damage.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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