What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 08/04/2018 a banner aircraft, N87000 dropped a banner (panel) in the designated drop zone at Lakewood Airport (N12). According to the pilot, the throttle was brought to idle, as the aircraft descended for its drop. The banner was released and full throttle was applied, for the initial climb out to join the downwind leg to runway 24. The engine did not produce full power and was?making abnormal combustion sounds?. The aircraft was still under some power when it stuck small trees approximately 15 feet high. The aircraft came to rest approximately 180 degrees opposite of its flight path in a nose down attitude. Aircraft was substantially damaged. Pilot was able to get out of the aircraft, but did sustain minor injuries and was taken to hospital. Carburetor icing probability chart showed serious icing probability with glide power.
An amendment to this report will be required as information is obtained; certain sections of the 8020-23, at this time are absent.
11/08/2018:
Engine continuity check was performed at Lakewood Airport (N12), Lakewood, NJ. On 10/19/2018: there were no findings that would pertain to a mechanical failure. Fuel was found in the gascolator/fuel strainer. Fuel was clean no issues. There was positive compression on both top and bottom spark plugs, there was observed spark from the ignition lead ends.
As the FAA filed it
ON 08/04/2018 A BANNER AIRCRAFT, N87000 DROPPED A BANNER (PANEL) IN THE DESIGNATED DROP ZONE AT LAKEWOOD AIRPORT (N12). ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE THROTTLE WAS BROUGHT TO IDLE, AS THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED FOR ITS DROP. THE BANNER WAS RELEASED AND FULL THROTTLE WAS APPLIED, FOR THE INITIAL CLIMB OUT TO JOIN THE DOWNWIND LEG TO RUNWAY 24. THE ENGINE DID NOT PRODUCE FULL POWER AND WAS?MAKING ABNORMAL COMBUSTION SOUNDS?. THE AIRCRAFT WAS STILL UNDER SOME POWER WHEN IT STUCK SMALL TREES APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET HIGH. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES OPPOSITE OF ITS FLIGHT PATH IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. PILOT WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT, BUT DID SUSTAIN MINOR INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART SHOWED SERIOUS ICING PROBABILITY WITH GLIDE POWER.
AN AMENDMENT TO THIS REPORT WILL BE REQUIRED AS INFORMATION IS OBTAINED; CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE 8020-23, AT THIS TIME ARE ABSENT.
11/08/2018:
ENGINE CONTINUITY CHECK WAS PERFORMED AT LAKEWOOD AIRPORT (N12), LAKEWOOD, NJ. ON 10/19/2018: THERE WERE NO FINDINGS THAT WOULD PERTAIN TO A MECHANICAL FAILURE. FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE GASCOLATOR/FUEL STRAINER. FUEL WAS CLEAN NO ISSUES. THERE WAS POSITIVE COMPRESSION ON BOTH TOP AND BOTTOM SPARK PLUGS, THERE WAS OBSERVED SPARK FROM THE IGNITION LEAD ENDS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.