CHI00LA220

NTSB accident investigation · Floroski Anderson Kingfisher · Deerwood, MN · July 22, 2000

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 22, 2000, 17:13 local (22:13 UTC)
Place
Deerwood, MN
Injuries
1 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N41SFFloroski Anderson Kingfisher
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 26, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20000722009219A
Case key
49855

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the open carburetor heat air box resulting in a loss of engine power, the diminished climb rate and the altitude/clearance not possible by the pilot. Factors were the trees and the bent carburetor heat push-pull rod.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malfTakeoff
Carburetor heat control,cable/push-pull rod - bentFactor
Carburetor heat,air box - openCause
Proper climb rate - diminishedCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterTakeoff - initial climb
Object - tree(s)Factor
Altitude/clearance - not possiblePilot in commandCause

Analysis

The airplane was damaged during an inflight collision with trees and the water during initial climb following a water takeoff after a touch and go. The pilot said that he had decided to perform a touch and go. He stated that after the takeoff, as he "... approached the S.E. [southeast] shore [he] was indicating less RPM and no climb. Too late [he] turned left along the shoreline and [k]new the trough to go through on the north. Only, in a very few feet it [the airplane] was settling not holding my own. A quick decision to try another left turn, but too slow, too low and no place to go.... Hit left rudder nose down and spun it in from 30 feet." The pilot also stated that after examining the wreckage, he found that the carburetor heat "...cable had bent in a "V", so the carb [carburetor] heat stayed on."

Factual narrative

On July 22, 2000, at 1713 central daylight time, an amateur built, Floroski Anderson Kingfisher, N41SF, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during an in-flight collision with trees and the water during initial climb after a water takeoff at the Birch Lake Seaplane Base, Deerwood, Minnesota. The pilot reported that he was performing a touch and go at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight originated about 1700 cdt.

In a written statement, the pilot said that he had decided to perform a touch and go. He stated that after the takeoff, as he "... approached the S.E. [southeast] shore [he] was indicating less RPM and no climb. Too late [he] turned left along the shoreline and [k]new the trough to go through on the north. Only, in a very few feet it [the airplane] was settling not holding my own. A quick decision to try another left turn, but too slow, too low and no place to go.... Hit left rudder nose down and spun it in from 30 feet." The pilot also stated that after examining the wreckage, he found that the carburetor heat "...cable had bent in a "V", so the carb [carburetor] heat stayed on."

Aircraft

Registration
N41SF
Reported as
Floroski Anderson Kingfisher (ANDERSON K)
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
158
Engine
Lycoming O-235, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Gerald L. Sethney
Registered owner
Allan W. Fraser
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Unknown · October 1, 1990 · 6 hours before
Departed
M69
Airport
M69 · Birch Lake Seaplane Base, runway 13, 6,000 × ft, water

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
64
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
Medical
Expired
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,057 total · 2 in this make and model · 1,057 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
220° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
160 °F, dew point 133 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
BRD, 14 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.