# NTSB ERA09LA221: T51 T51, N332BC, Lake Wales, FL, March 25, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 25, 2009, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Lake Wales, FL - Coordinates: 27.890277, -81.625274 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8903&lon=-81.6253&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 11, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73572 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA221 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73572/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA221 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to the carburetor not being secured to its mounting pad. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [T-51 T-51 MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=05621WR), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [T-51 T-51 MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=05621WR), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [T-51 T-51 MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=05621WR), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [T-51 T-51 MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=05621WR), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [T-51 T-51 MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05621WR), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [T-51 T-51 MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05621WR), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the amateur-built airplane stated he was in cruise flight at 700 feet when the engine appeared to reduce to idle power. He pulled the throttle back initially, and then applied power, and the engine appeared to respond to the throttle application. The pilot began maneuvering for a forced landing to a highway, but during the process the engine reduced to idle power again, requiring the pilot to land in a field instead. On touchdown, the main landing gear separated and the airplane came to rest in a nose-down position. Examination of the engine revealed that the carburetor was loose from its mounting pad, which could result in a partial or total loss of engine power. The owner of the airplane stated that the last condition inspection on the airplane was completed about 1 year prior to the accident and that he did not verify that the carburetor was properly installed. ## Factual narrative On March 25, 2009, at 1530 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built T-51 Mustang, N332BC, registered to Pulsar 27AC Inc., operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, experienced a partial loss of engine power in cruise flight near Lake Wales, Florida. The pilot made a forced landing to a palmetto field and the left and right wings received substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot and owner/passenger of the airplane reported no injuries. The flight originated from St Lucie County International Airport (FPR), Fort Pierce, Florida, at 1510. The pilot stated he was in cruise flight at 700 feet when the airplane engine appeared to reduce to idle power. He pulled the throttle back, increased power, and the engine appeared to respond to the throttle application. He made a right turn towards a highway in the event he would have to make a forced landing. The owner suggested that they fly towards another airport; however, they were not sure if they could make it. The pilot further stated he turned to the left, and over flew a field to enter a downwind for landing. The engine reduced to idle power again and the airplane would not maintain altitude. The pilot made a forced landing to another field covered with palmetto plants. On touchdown the main landing gear separated and the airplane came to rest in a nose down position. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the carburetor was loose, "which would have caused a partial or even a total loss of engine power." The owner of the airplane informed the inspector the last condition inspection on the airplane was completed on March 21, 2008, and that he did not verify that the carburetor was properly installed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N332BC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N332BC), registered now, S/N M04XXXS0HK0053, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: T51 Inc. T51 - Registry model: [T-51 T-51 MUSTANG](https://openairdocs.org/model/t-51-t-51-mustang) (registry code 05621WR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: M04XXXS0HK0053 - Airframe hours: 84 - Engines: Rotax 912S 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Craig M. Muth - Registered owner: Pulsar N27AC Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 21, 2008, 41 hours before - Departed: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Destination: X49, Mulberry, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 15, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 6,100 total, 4 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 18 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 5,000 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 48 °F - Observed at: BOW, 15 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 20090325004019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090325004019A), Mar 25, 2009: Titan T51MUSTANG, Lake Wales, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 25, 2009, about 30 minutes into the flight, the aircraft, N332BC, an amatuer built T-51 mustang, sustained partial loss of engine power and… 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.