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20230606006749A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Cessna 207 · Harlingen, TX · June 6, 2023

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
June 6, 2023 · 12:08 local
Place
Harlingen, TX
Phase of flight
Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator
575J
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N91157
NTSB investigation
NTSBCEN23LA231
Reported as
Cessna 207
Reported engine
Continental IO-520 series
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificates
Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours
2,221 total
N91157Registered now · Cessna 207S/N 20700096 · Built 1969Airframe modelCessna 207Engine modelContinental IO-520 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.

Pilot lost power during climb and landed aircraft in field with tall crops, damaged left wing forward spar. Aircraft damage detrimined substantial in coordination with NTSB and NTSB engineering.

Pilot statement verbatum:

Aircraft was being used to disperse sterile fruit flies, on the last flight of the day, I was cleared to depart rwy. 17L at hrl. On the departure climb, at 500 feet, I reduced manifold to 25 hg, and RPM to 2500 for the climb, almost immediately, the engine's power reduced to idle, I asked for a return to the airport, tower cleared me to land 35R, when I saw that it was going to be a tight turn, I requested rwy 31, because I was closer and it didn't require a steep bank, as I'm turning back to the airport I initiate the failed engine sequence with no results, the engine remained at idle power, by that time I realized I was too low to make rwy. 31 without hitting buildings and possibly hurting people on the ground, I noticed off my right side a nice field, and elected to land the airplane on the field, I notified ATC of my decision and proceeded to land the aircraft on the field.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT LOST POWER DURING CLIMB AND LANDED AIRCRAFT IN FIELD WITH TALL CROPS, DAMAGED LEFT WING FORWARD SPAR. AIRCRAFT DAMAGE DETRIMINED SUBSTANTIAL IN COORDINATION WITH NTSB AND NTSB ENGINEERING.

PILOT STATEMENT VERBATUM:

AIRCRAFT WAS BEING USED TO DISPERSE STERILE FRUIT FLIES, ON THE LAST FLIGHT OF THE DAY, I WAS CLEARED TO DEPART RWY. 17L AT HRL. ON THE DEPARTURE CLIMB, AT 500 FEET, I REDUCED MANIFOLD TO 25 HG, AND RPM TO 2500 FOR THE CLIMB, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, THE ENGINE'S POWER REDUCED TO IDLE, I ASKED FOR A RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, TOWER CLEARED ME TO LAND 35R, WHEN I SAW THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A TIGHT TURN, I REQUESTED RWY 31, BECAUSE I WAS CLOSER AND IT DIDN'T REQUIRE A STEEP BANK, AS I'M TURNING BACK TO THE AIRPORT I INITIATE THE FAILED ENGINE SEQUENCE WITH NO RESULTS, THE ENGINE REMAINED AT IDLE POWER, BY THAT TIME I REALIZED I WAS TOO LOW TO MAKE RWY. 31 WITHOUT HITTING BUILDINGS AND POSSIBLY HURTING PEOPLE ON THE GROUND, I NOTICED OFF MY RIGHT SIDE A NICE FIELD, AND ELECTED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE ON THE FIELD, I NOTIFIED ATC OF MY DECISION AND PROCEEDED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT ON THE FIELD.

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 CEN23LA231Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportHarlingen, TXThe improper installation of the throttle control arm to the throttle control cable attachment end, which resulted in a failure of the control arm and a loss of engine power in flight.Jun 6, 2023 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N91157 · 3

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

Incident 20110824018649ICruise/Level Flight · Harlingen, TXAircraft was flying, loss power in flight. Aircraft had approx 70-77 gallons of fuel at the beginning of the day. Aircraft flew a total of 2.4 hours befor landing in a field. After the flight during the investigation it was revealed a new gas cap seal had…Aug 24, 2011 · Minor damageIncident 20110818019969ICruise/Level Flight · Harlingen, TXDuring cruise pilot lost throttle control of engine, engine shut down and pilot performed emergency landing into a grass field. No damage to aircraft or injury. Discovered throttle cable broken.Aug 18, 2011 · No damageAccident 19850918048729AFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Chuathbaluk, AKLanded in river after fuel was exhausted. Right filler cap broken. Unable to visually inspect quantity on preflightSep 18, 1985 · Substantial damage