# NTSB CHI94DCJ02: Mueller Q2, N524WM, Utica, NE, June 25, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report - Date: June 25, 1994, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Utica, NE - Coordinates: 40.890941, -97.339958 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8909&lon=-97.3400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9339 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94DCJ02 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9339/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94DCJ02 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE CARBURETOR FLOAT VALVE. A RELATED FACTOR IS THE HIGH VEGETATION AT THE LANDING SITE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - fuel system,carburetor - failure,total (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT/AIRPLANE BUILDER STATED THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 3,000 FEET MSL WHEN THE ENGINE '...WENT TO IDLE...' AND HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE POWER. THE PILOT REPORTED HE SET THE AIRPLANE UP FOR ITS 'BEST GLIDE' AIRSPEED AND SELECTED A FIELD FOR A FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THE FIELDS WITHIN RANGE WERE CORN FIELDS, SO HE PICKED ONE WITH THE ROWS GOING INTO THE WIND, AND LANDED. THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN THE 4 FOOT HIGH CORN AND SOFT DIRT, AND FLIPPED OVER, COMING TO REST UPSIDE DOWN. POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CARBURETOR FLOAT VALVE STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 1994, at 1300 central daylight time, a Mueller Q2, N524WM, piloted by the owner/builder, experienced a loss of engine power during cruise flight in the vicinity of Utica, Nebraska. The homebuilt airplane was destroyed when it nosed over during the subsequent forced landing. The private pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from York, Nebraska, approximately 1245. The pilot stated the airplane was in cruise flight at 3,000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL) when "...my engine went to idle and I could do nothing to get power back." He reported he set the airplane up for its best glide and looked for a field for the forced landing. The pilot reported all the fields were corn fields. He selected a corn field with the rows aligned into the wind, and set up to land. The pilot stated: "I had a controlled approach but as the plane touched down the 4 foot high corn and soft dirt flipped the aircraft over and it landed on its canopy." Postaccident investigation revealed the carburetor float needle valve was stuck in the closed position. The valve seat stuck repeatedly during postaccident examination (see Inspector Statement.) The pilot reported the carburetor total time was 23.4 hours. The most recent inspection was an Annual Inspection which was dated August 29, 1993. The carburetor had 7.6 hours since the Annual Inspection. The pilot stated he "...could have cleaned carburetor after sitting for the winter...this may have prevented the accident." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N524WM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N524WM-1995-05-05), registration cancelled 1995-05-05, S/N 2758 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MUELLER Q2 - Registry model: [Mueller William C Q2](https://openairdocs.org/model/mueller-william-c-q2) (registry code 05645J4) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2758 - Airframe hours: 23 - Engines: HAPI 82 2DEH 82 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William C. Mueller - Registered owner: William C. Mueller - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 1993, 8 hours before - Departed: JYR, YORK, NE - Destination: LNK, LINCOLN, NE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 130 total, 7 in this make and model, 87 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LNK, 4 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 19940625016799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940625016799A), Jun 25, 1994: Utica, NE, Destroyed. Lost power en route. Landed in plowed field. Nosed over. Cut hand trying to egress. Carburetor float valve stuck. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.