CEN10LA340

The radial engine of the vintage airplane lost engine rpm shortly after takeoff. During the ensueing forced landing, the airplane departed the end of the runway, struck a ditch and fence, and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed heat damage to the number one, two, and number nine cylinders. The number one cylinder exhibited excessive heat damage, which according to the FAA inspector and engine mechanic, would have rendered the cylinder inoperative and degraded engine performance. Examination of the remaining airframe and engine systems revealed a broken carburetor heat control arm. No other anomalies were discovered that may have contributed to the loss of power.

On June 4, 2010, approximately 1100 central daylight time, a Boeing A75L300, N75263, was substantially damaged when it nosed over following a forced landing at Burger's Valley Airport (58KS), Salina, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The commercial pilot and his pilot certificated passenger were not injured. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Junction City, Kansas. According to the written statement submitted by the commercial pilot, the engine rpms decreased right after takeoff. The pilot stated that he did not have enough runway remaining to land and bring the airplane to a stop. The airplane subsequently departed the end of the runway, traveled across a gravel road, impacted a ditch and a barbed wire fence, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. An on scene examination of the airplane, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, revealed that the vertical stabilizer was crushed and a rib in the right wing was damaged. The examination also revealed that the carburetor heat attachment arm was broken. Further examination of the airframe flight controls revealed no anomalies. The engine and propeller governor were removed from the airframe for further examination. The propeller governor was examined under the auspices of the FAA in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The examination revealed no abnormalities. The bench test of the propeller governor produced results "within range." An examination of the engine revealed heat damage to the number one, number two, and number nine cylinders. The number one cylinder exhibited excessive heat damage, which according to the FAA and engine mechanic, would have rendered the cylinder inoperative. An examination of the remaining engine systems revealed no anomalies. The heat damage was reported to be a result of the carburetor heat remaining in the "on" position during previous flights.