What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot was soloing in the practice area. He was returning to Nichols Field, and beginning his descent. He indicated that his radio was having some interference from the aircraft?s electrical system when he took off. To make sure this did not happen on return, he reached up to turn off the master switch. At this point the aircraft engine stopped. Pilot did not attempt restart because prior to flight he had disconnected the battery from the starter motor and felt he was too low to try a restart. Pilot landed the aircraft in some bushes, causing minor damage to the aircraft and giving him bruised ribs. After landing pilot went to turn off master and magnetos. Pilot noticed that the magnetos switch was already turned off and the master was on. Pilot stated that he must have accidentally turned off the magnetos instead of the master in flight.
An investigation has been started, as a result of the pilot flying the aircraft with a known descrepancy.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT WAS SOLOING IN THE PRACTICE AREA. HE WAS RETURNING TO NICHOLS FIELD, AND BEGINNING HIS DESCENT. HE INDICATED THAT HIS RADIO WAS HAVING SOME INTERFERENCE FROM THE AIRCRAFT?S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHEN HE TOOK OFF. TO MAKE SURE THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON RETURN, HE REACHED UP TO TURN OFF THE MASTER SWITCH. AT THIS POINT THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE STOPPED. PILOT DID NOT ATTEMPT RESTART BECAUSE PRIOR TO FLIGHT HE HAD DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY FROM THE STARTER MOTOR AND FELT HE WAS TOO LOW TO TRY A RESTART. PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN SOME BUSHES, CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AND GIVING HIM BRUISED RIBS. AFTER LANDING PILOT WENT TO TURN OFF MASTER AND MAGNETOS. PILOT NOTICED THAT THE MAGNETOS SWITCH WAS ALREADY TURNED OFF AND THE MASTER WAS ON. PILOT STATED THAT HE MUST HAVE ACCIDENTALLY TURNED OFF THE MAGNETOS INSTEAD OF THE MASTER IN FLIGHT.
AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN STARTED, AS A RESULT OF THE PILOT FLYING THE AIRCRAFT WITH A KNOWN DESCREPANCY.
Other reports on N3156D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.