# NTSB CHI89DET05: Billings/White Avid Flyer, N305BJ, Niles, MI, May 21, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: May 21, 1989, 15:06 local (19:06 UTC)
- Place: Niles, MI
- Coordinates: 41.829677, -86.239967 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8297&lon=-86.2400&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 25, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14219
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89DET05
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14219/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89DET05

## Probable cause

LOOSE CARBURETOR(S) DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE/INSTALLATION,  WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER; AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A FORCED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND SUBSEQUENT IMPACT WITH THE GROUND.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - base turn
  - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - fuel system,carburetor - loose (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - maneuver - initiated
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES RPRTD THE ACFT'S ENG LOST POWER DURING A TURN ONTO BASE LEG.  THE ACFT WAS THEN MANEUVERED IN A 360 DEG TURN, AS IF TO LAND IN A FIELD. AS IT WAS BEING MANEUVERED, IT ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT & IMPACTED THE GROUND.   A POST-ACDNT EXAM REVEALED THAT BOTH CARBURETORS WERE LOOSE. CONFIGURATION OF THE ENG REQUIRED THAT EACH CARBURETOR BE SECURED WITH 2 CLAMPS. ONLY 3 OF THE 4 CLAMPS WERE FOUND DESPITE AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH.  THE HOME BUILT ACFT WAS ON ITS 3RD FLT & WAS BEING FLOWN FROM AN EAA FLY-IN BY THE 2 BUILDERS WHEN THE ACDNT OCCURRED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N305BJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N305BJ-1991-04-03), registration cancelled 1991-04-03, S/N 305 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BILLINGS/WHITE AVID FLYER
- Registry model: [Billings J O/White C E AVID FLYER](https://openairdocs.org/model/billings-j-o-white-c-e-avid-flyer) (registry code 05612QB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 305
- Airframe hours: 18
- Engines: ROTAX 532 64 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: J. O. Billings/ C. E. White
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, September 8, 1988, 18 hours before
- Departed: BEH, BENTON HARBOR, MI
- Airport: 3TR, Jerry Tyler Memorial, runway 32, 4,100 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 95 total, 15 in this make and model, 57 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBN, 8 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 19890521012309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890521012309A), May 21, 1989: Amtr AVIDFLYER, Coldwater, MI, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Engine quit turning final made steep turn to land in open field stalled spun in. Clamp holding carburetor fell off.

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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