# NTSB CHI93DET01: Carlson Sparrow II, N6648Y, Lafontaine, IN, December 21, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: December 21, 1992, 13:20 local (18:20 UTC)
- Place: Lafontaine, IN
- Coordinates: 40.67033, -85.719902 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6703&lon=-85.7199&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15571
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93DET01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15571/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93DET01

## Probable cause

FUEL STARVATION DUE TO A BLOCKED FUEL LINE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY IMPROPER GASKET SEALING COMPOUND.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - material defect(inadequate quality of material), manufacturer (cause)
  - fuel system,line - blocked(total)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven

## Analysis

PILOT EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, AND MADE FORCED LANDING IN PLOWED FIELD. AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING LANDING ROLLOUT. THE ENGINE FUEL LINE WAS FOUND TO BE BLOCKED BY GASKET SEALING COMPOUND USED IN THE FUEL TANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6648Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6648Y-2013-03-18), registration cancelled 2013-03-18, S/N CA310, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CARLSON SPARROW II
- Registry model: [Thompson William A CARLSON SPARROW II](https://openairdocs.org/model/thompson-william-a-carlson-sparrow-ii) (registry code 056183Q) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: CA-310
- Airframe hours: 125
- Engines: ROTAX BMBDIER 582 66 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: William A. Thompson
- Registered owner: William A. Thompson
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 1992, 27 hours before
- Departed: IWH, WABASH, IN
- Destination: MZZ, MARION, IN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 165 total, 22 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GUS, 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 19921221050969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921221050969A), Dec 21, 1992: Amtr SPARROWII, La Fountaine, IN, Substantial damage. Lost power en route. Nosed over on forced landing, had fuel line blockage

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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