# NTSB CHI95LA295: Kraetzner SKY-BUGGY, N16626, Princeton, WI, August 20, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 20, 1995, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Princeton, WI - Coordinates: 43.849246, -89.120948 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8492&lon=-89.1209&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 21, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10010 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA295 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10010/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA295 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power due to the blocked float valve seat in the carburetor and the pilot's failure to have the proper maintenance inspection performed on the airplane. ## 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, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system,carburetor float - blocked(partial) (cause) - maintenance,inspection - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - swampy ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AFTER TAKING OFF, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE RPM AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE. AFTER REALIZING THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A MARSH. THE CARBURETOR WAS DISASSEMBLED AND REVEALED THE FLOAT VALVE SEAT WAS PARTIALLY BLOCKED. THE LAST INSPECTION WAS A PRECOVER INSPECTION PERFORMED IN 1972, AFTER THE AIRPLANE CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED. NO OTHER INSPECTIONS WERE PERFORMED ON THE AIRPLANE. N16626 DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. TOTAL TIME ON THE AIRPLANE WAS 6 HOURS. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 1995, at 1000 central daylight time, a Kraetzner Sky-Buggy homebuilt, N16626, was destroyed following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing immediately after taking off from Bed-Ah-Wick Field Airport in Princeton, Wisconsin. The private pilot reported no injuries. The local 14 CFR Part 91 pleasure flight operated without a flight plan in visual meteorological conditions. The pilot reported that at approximately 100 feet above the ground after taking off from runway 36 (2600' x 130'), the engine began to lose RPM and the airplane began losing altitude. After realizing that he would not be able to return to the airport, the pilot decided to make a forced landing. The airplane landed on a marsh. A postaccident examination was performed on the engine. The spark plugs were found "dry" with no soot deposits. The carburetor was dissembled and the float valve seat was found partially blocked. Very little fuel was found in the carburetor. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he had recently bought the airplane. He believes that the airplane was built in 1972, and besides an initial test flight, the airplane had never been flown. This flight was the pilot's first flight in the airplane. The pilot stated that he had performed an engine run- up prior to departure, and everything seemed normal. The airplane logbook shows the last inspection was a precover inspection performed on September 27, 1972, after the airplane construction was completed. No other inspections were performed on the airplane. N16626 did not have a current Airworthiness Certificate at the time of the accident. Total time on the airplane was six hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16626](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16626-2011-02-08), registration cancelled 2011-02-08, S/N 1001, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KRAETZNER SKY-BUGGY - Registry model: [Kraetzner SKY-BUGGY](https://openairdocs.org/model/kraetzner-sky-buggy) (registry code 0562642) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1001 - Engines: Volkswagen 1500 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Norman A. Prachel - Departed: 1WI3 - Airport: 1WI3, Bed-Ah-Wick Field, runway 36, 2,600 × 130 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 900 total, 1 in this make and model, 900 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19950820030329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950820030329A), Aug 20, 1995: Amtr SKYBUGGY, Princeton, WI, Destroyed. Lost power 100FT on climbout. Landed in a marsh. Carb float valve seat b locked by debris. No condition inspection. 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.