# NTSB DFW06LA135: Boeing A75, N58072, Jennings, LA, May 20, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 20, 2006, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Jennings, LA - Coordinates: 30.2388888888889, -92.6705555555556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2389&lon=-92.6706&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63720 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06LA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63720/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06LA135 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Hard landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, the vintage biplane's radial engine lost partial power and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude. During the emergency descent, the 4,900-hour commercial pilot elected to turn the airplane towards an open field. In an attempt to avoid a "tall" fence, the airplane experienced a hard landing. There was no postimpact fire and the pilot and passenger were able to egress the airplane unassisted. An examination of the airplane's engine and fuel system revealed no preimpact anomalies. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On May 20, 2006, about 1830 central daylight time, a single-engine Boeing A75 tailwheel-equipped biplane, N58072, was substantially damaged during a hard landing following a partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from the Jennings Airport (3R7), near Jennings, Louisiana. The commercial pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. The vintage airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The 4,900-houor commercial pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from Runway 17, (a 2,000-foot-long by 150-foot-wide grass runway), the 220-horsepower radial engine sustained a partial loss of power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and elected to land to an open field. As the pilot was attempting to avoid a "tall" fence, the airplane experienced a hard landing. There was no postimpact fire and the pilot and passenger were able to egress the airplane unassisted. The pilot further reported that as a result of the hard landing the fuselage was twisted and the lower left wing's main spar was broken. A representative from the NTSB examined the airplane at Air Salvage of Dallas, near Lancaster, Texas. An examination of the airplane's gravity fed fuel system revealed that the single 46-gallon fuel tank contained approximately 12 gallons of a blue liquid consistent with 100 Low Lead aviation fuel. The engine primer was found in the "in and locked" position. The fuel tank vent was found unobstructed. The fuel selector valve was tested and found to be operational. Both of the wooden propeller blades were splintered and destroyed from midspan outward. The front spark plugs were removed and no anomalies were noted. Thumb compression was obtained in each cylinder by rotating the engine via its propeller. Valve train continuity was established to all valves and to the accessory gears. Both engine magnetos' produced spark when rotated by hand. The engine oil screen was removed and no visible metal particles or obstructions were observed. The fuel gascolator screen was found clean and unobstructed. The engine carburetor was removed and disassembled. The carburetor float did not contain liquid and no anomalies were noted with the needle and seat. No anomalies were found with either the airframe or the engine that could have prevented normal flight. A review of the carburetor icing chart by the Investigator In Charge (IIC) revealed that, at the time of the accident, conditions were not conducive for carburetor icing at takeoff power. The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined. At 1755, the weather observation facility at Chennault International Airport (CWF), near Lake Charles, Louisiana, located 25 nautical miles west from the site of the accident, was reporting the wind from 220 degrees at 13 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear of clouds, temperature 80 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 57 degrees Fahrenheit, humidity 45 percent, and a barometric pressure setting of 29.96 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N58072](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N58072-2016-10-07), registration cancelled 2016-10-07, S/N 75-596 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing A75 - Registry model: [Boeing A75](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75) (registry code 1380108) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-596 - Engines: Continental W670 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2006 - Departed: 3R7, JENNINGS, LA - Airport: 3R7, Jennings, runway 17, 2,000 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; flight hours: 4,900 total, 300 in this make and model, 4,800 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: CWF, 25 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 20060520010049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060520010049A), May 20, 2006: Boeing A75, Jennings, LA, Substantial damage. (-23) Engine lost power during take off, aircraft and engine recovered by NTSB for teardown evaluation of causal factors. ## Other investigations on N58072 (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX89LA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA090), Jan 18, 1989: Boeing A75 (N58072), Huntington Bch, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER, AND THE SUDDEN WIND SHIFT THAT WAS ENCOUNTERED DURING TAKEOFF. THE TREES & WALL WERE RELATED FACTORS. 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.