# NTSB CHI94LA243: Inman Acro Sport 1, N869M, Albert Lea, MN, July 23, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 1994, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Albert Lea, MN - Coordinates: 43.650299, -93.35968 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6503&lon=-93.3597&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9607 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA243 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9607/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA243 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to make a precautionary landing on the remaining runway. Factors in the accident were the blocked fuel injector and inadvertent stall. ## 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, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system,injector - blocked(total) (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis Immediately after takeoff, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power. The pilot stopped the climb and leveled the airplane at approximately 150 feet above the ground and 1200 feet down the runway. He continued to fly the entire length of the runway. At the end of the runway, the pilot made a left turn in an attempt to make emergency landing. At approximately 75 feet above ground level, the airplane's nose pitched down slightly, the sink rate increased, and the right wing dropped slightly. Postaccident inspection revealed the number three fuel injector was plugged with a small amount of an unidentified matter. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 1994, at 1530 central daylight time, an Acro Sport, N869M, sustained substantial damage when it made a hard landing after losing engine power immediately after taking off from Albert Lea Municipal Airport, Albert Lea, Minnesota. The private pilot, who was participating in an acrobatic competition at the time of the accident, received serious injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions. According to one witness, N869M departed runway 34 (4501' x 100') and leveled off approximately 150 feet above the ground and 1200 feet down the runway. At the same time that the airplane leveled off, the witness states he heard a reduction in engine power. When the airplane reached the end of runway 34, he observed the airplane make a steep to medium bank to the left. The witness did not see the airplane impact the ground, but does state that he did not hear any backfiring. The airplane was at reduced power, and stayed at the same RPM the entire time that he was able to hear the engine. A second witness first noticed the airplane shortly after takeoff, level at approximately 150 feet above the ground and operating at reduced power. The witness states that the pilot had approximately 2600 feet of runway remaining at the time when he leveled off. He states there was no indication of a rough running engine or any visible smoke. The witness states he expected the airplane to land on the remaining runway, but the airplane continued. He then states that the pilot initiated a left turn while maintaining altitude. At the conclusion of the turn, at approximately 75 feet above the ground, the witness observed the airplane's nose pitch down slightly, the sink rate increased dramatically, and the right wing dropped slightly. The aircraft impacted the ground in a 15 degrees nose down attitude. The witness states there was no change in engine sound throughout the occurrence. A postaccident inspection of the engine revealed the number three fuel injector was plugged with a small amount of an unidentified matter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N869M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N869M-1996-05-16), registration cancelled 1996-05-16, S/N 357 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: INMAN ACRO SPORT 1 (ACRO SPORT) - Registry model: [Inman EAA ACROSPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/inman-eaa-acrosport) (registry code 0564602) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 357 - Airframe hours: 740 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John C. Willkomm - Registered owner: John C. Willkomm - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 31, 1994, 35 hours before - Airport: AEL, Albert Lee Municipal, runway 34, 4,501 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 808 total, 500 in this make and model, 742 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: AEL ## 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 19940723019229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940723019229A), Jul 23, 1994: Amtrea ACROSPORT, Albert Lea, MN, Substantial damage. Lost power on climbout. Crash landed. Found clogged fuel injector. 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.