# NTSB BFO93LA076: Hockenbury Bowers FLY Baby, N80PH, Peapack, NJ, May 9, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 9, 1993, 12:04 local (16:04 UTC)
- Place: Peapack, NJ
- Location: 40.7168° N, 74.6565° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Peapack, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7168&lon=-74.6565&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11936
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO93LA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11936/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93LA076

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING ARM WHICH RESULTED IN PARTIAL OPENING OF THE THROTTLE VALVE.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AVAILABLE FOR LANDING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - fuel system,carburetor - disabled (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s)
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE AT CRUISE, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT AND CHECKED THE OIL TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE.  THE ENGINE DID NOT REGAIN POWER.  THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN A YARD BELOW THE AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT PATH BUT DURING THE APPROACH TO LANDING, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES.  THE AIRPLANE FELL TO THE GROUND AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.  POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT REVEAL ANY AIRFRAME ANOMALIES.  THE ENGINE WAS DISMANTLED AND EXAMINED.  EXAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING ARM, WHICH WAS FASTENED TO THE THROTTLE SHAFT, WAS LOOSE AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT OPEN THE THROTTLE VALVE FULLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N80PH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80PH-1993-12-02), registration cancelled 1993-12-02, S/N 3934 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HOCKENBURY BOWERS FLY BABY (BOWERS FLY)
- Registry model: [Hockenbury Peter L BOWERS FLY-BABY A1](https://openairdocs.org/model/hockenbury-peter-l-bowers-fly-baby-a1) (registry code 14101B7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 3934
- Airframe hours: 409
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Peter Hockenbury
- Registered owner: Peter Hockenbury
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 1991, 34 hours before
- Departed: N12, LAKEWOOD ARPT, NJ
- Destination: N07, LINCOLN PARK, NJ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 587 total, 402 in this make and model, 512 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: NWK, 20 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 19930509012579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930509012579A), May 9, 1993: Amtrbw FLYBABY1, Peapack, NJ, Substantial damage. Lost partial power. Landed in trees and fell to ground. Throttle valve actuating arm loose on throttle shaft.

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.

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