# NTSB ATL95LA107: Boeing D75N1, N53232, Fayetteville, GA, June 8, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 8, 1995, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Fayetteville, GA - Coordinates: 33.490211, -84.489334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4902&lon=-84.4893&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3568 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3568/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA107 ## Probable cause A MALFUNCTION OF THE CARBURETOR NEEDLE VALVE WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel system,carburetor - malfunction (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED A GRADUAL REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB. WHILE MANEUVERING FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETOR FLOAT NEEDLE ASSEMBLY WAS TIGHTER THAN NORMAL IN THE SEAT ASSEMBLY. ## Factual narrative On June 8, 1995, at 1830 eastern daylight time, a Boeing D75N1, N53232, collided with a tree during a takeoff attempt from a private airstrip near Fayetteville, Georgia. The personal flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the pilot received serious injuries, and the passenger received minor injuries. According to the pilot, he landed at Willow Park Airstrip, and had been on the ground thirty minutes before he attempted the takeoff. As the pilot taxied for the takeoff, he completed a magneto check. The pilot stated that he departed runway 27 and climbed to approximately 200 feet above ground level. During the initial climb, the engine Rpm dropped to 1500, and the pilot executed a left turn for an emergency landing in an open field. While maneuvering for the emergency landing, the engine rpm dropped to 1100, and then the engine quit. The aircraft lost altitude and collided with trees. An examination of the aircraft fuel system revealed a positive fuel flow to the gascolator. However, no fuel was found from the gascolator to the inlet of the carburetor. The carburetor fuel bowl was found to be full of fuel. According to a repair facility that specialized in D75N1 repairs, and an engineer from the Federal Aviation Administration powerplant division, the fuel system conditions revealed during the aircraft examination were indicative of a carburetor float needle valve assembly malfunction. Examination of the float needle valve and seat assemblies revealed that the float needle valve was tighter than normal in the seat assembly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N53232](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53232-2001-12-05), registration cancelled 2001-12-05, S/N 75-3843, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING D75N1 - Registry model: [Boeing D75N1](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-d75n1) (registry code 1380148) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-3843 - Airframe hours: 4946 - Engines: CONTINENTAL W670-6 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: St.Julien, James R. - Registered owner: Craig Parker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 24, 1995, 20 hours before - Airport: 19GA, Willow Pond, runway 27, 3,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 10,000 total, 10,000 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 8 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ATL, 15 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 19950608017429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950608017429A), Jun 8, 1995: Boeing D75N1, Fayetteville, GA, Substantial damage. Reported gradual power loss on climbout. Settled into trees. Carburetor float needle valve binding. ## Other investigations on N53232 (3) 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. - [NTSB ATL92LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92LA128), Jun 21, 1992: Boeing D75N1 (N53232), Stockbridge, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE DOWNWIND CONDITION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER IN FLIGHT PLANNING TO ATTEMPT A DOWNWIND LANDING ON THE SHORT RUNWAY WITH… - [NTSB IAD76FIA14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD76FIA14), Sep 23, 1976: Boeing D75N1 (N53232), Front Royal, VA, substantial damage - [NTSB MKC67F0135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC67F0135), Jul 18, 1966: Boeing A75N1 (N53232), Newton, KS, substantial damage 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.