- Date
- August 21, 1993, 16:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place
- Eaton Rapids, MI
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4301DBradford Pietenpol Skyscout
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930821029889A
- Case key
- 9135
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertant stall. Factors related to the accident were the low altitude and the restricted movement of the carburetor needle.
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.
Analysis
During initial climbout from takeoff, the homebuilt airplane's engine surged once according to the pilot statement. Upon clearing trees located along the departure path, the pilot stated he turned the airplane to the right at an altitude of 30 feet above ground level. During the turn the pilot stated the airplane stalled and collided with the ground. Post accident inspection revealed the carburetor needle and seat were burred. The needle would stick in the closed position when seated.
Factual narrative
History of flight
On August 21, 1993 at 1620 hours, EDT, a Pietenpol Sky Scout, N4301D registered to Kyle R. Bradford of Eaton Rapids, Michigan and operated by a Commercially certified pilot crashed in a plowed field east of the owners private airfield. The accident occurred during the takeoff phase of operation while on a pleasure flight. VFR weather conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the pilot received minor injuries.
Aircraft information
The home built Pietenpol aircraft, N4301D was built in 1992. The aircraft maintenance records indicate that the aircraft was certified and maintained in accordance with the FARs. The records also indicate the aircraft has accumulated approximately 90.5 hours of time in service since manufacture date.
Wreckage and impact information
The aircraft was substantially damaged on ground impact. The left wing tip, which took the initial impact, was badly damaged for approximately 5 feet. The right wing was intact and received very little damage. The fuselage received damage only at the forward side, where the engine mounts to fuselage because of the engine impact to the ground. The right main landing gear strut received major damage and was partially torn form the fuselage at the weld joint. The left main landing gear strut received very little damage.
Medical and pathological information
The pilot received cuts and bruised in the eye and nose area with a broken nose. He received eight stitched and was released from the Eaton Rapids Medical Facility. He also has a very sore back.
Additional information
The carburetor, manufacture; Zenith, series 267, universal type, was removed from engine and a teardown inspection conducted. Found the Float Needle/Seat burred and would stick in the closed position when the defects of the Needle matched the defects of the Seat. The wreckage was released to the owner on August 24, 1993, via a NTSB Form 6120.15.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4301D
- Reported as
- Bradford Pietenpol Skyscout
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 01
- Airframe hours
- 91
- Engine
- Continental W4A AUTOSATAR, 32 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kyle R. Bradford
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 12, 1993 · 5 hours before
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
- 65
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 23,200 total · 75 in this make and model · 14,300 as pilot in command · 45 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- JXN, 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.