# NTSB ATL04LA100: Alon A2, N5674F, Fort Pierce, FL, April 24, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 24, 2004, 14:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Fort Pierce, FL - Coordinates: 27.506111, -80.485832 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5061&lon=-80.4858&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Orlando FSDO-15 - NTSB case key (mKey): 59119 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59119/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA100 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation resulting from a crack in the gascolator bowl. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - fuel system,gascolator - cracked (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis According to the pilot the airplane lost engine power shortly after takeoff. Efforts by the pilot to restart the engine were unsuccessful. During the forced landing, the airplane collided with trees in an orange grove. Examination of the downed airplane revealed that the ribs of the right wing were bent, and the fuselage was buckled. Further examination revealed the lower gasket on the glass gascolator bowl was not aligned. The examination also disclosed that the glass gascolator bowl was dry and cracked. The maintenance performed on the airplane was an annual inspection which was completed 20 hours before the accident flight on October 23, 2003. ## Factual narrative On April 24, 2004 at 1410 eastern daylight time, an Alon A2, N5674F, owned and operated by the pilot, collided with trees following a loss of engine power during takeoff in Fort Pierce, Florida. The flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot received minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The local flight departed Strazzula Groves Airstrip, Fort Pierce, Florida, at 1408 on April 24, 2004. According to the pilot the airplane lost engine power shortly after takeoff. Efforts by the pilot to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The pilot made a forced landing in an orange grove. During the forced landing the airplane collided with trees. According to the pilot there were 16 gallons of automotive fuel onboard the airplane at the time of the attempted takeoff. The last annual inspection was completed 20 hours before the accident flight on October 23, 2003. Examination of the downed airplane revealed that the wreckage debris was scattered in the immediate vicinity of the wreckage. The ribs of the right wing were bent, and the fuselage was buckled. Examination of the engine revealed that the engine had compression in all four cylinders and the magnetos sparked. Fuel was found in all three fuel tanks and inside the carburetor. The fuel feed to the gascolator was attached and unclogged. Further examination of the gascolator assembly revealed that the lower gasket on the glass gascolator bowl was not aligned with the bowl. The examination also disclosed that the glass gascolator bowl was dry and cracked. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5674F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5674F), registered now, S/N A-174, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Alon A2 - Registry model: [Alon A2](https://openairdocs.org/model/alon-a2) (registry code 0540102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: A 174 - Airframe hours: 1731 - Engines: Continental C9016F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 13, 2003, 20.5 hours before - Departed: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Destination: FL74, Indian River, FL - Airport: Strazzulla Groves ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 11, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,021 total, 259 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: FPR, 16 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040424016839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040424016839A), Apr 24, 2004: Univar A2ALON, Ft Pierce, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) After takeoff from stuzzulla grove airpark, lost power and crashed into an orange grove 7 miles west of ft. Pierce, FL. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.