- Date
- May 20, 2012, 20:30 local (May 21, 2012, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Lincolnton, NC
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2355LAero Works Aero Lite 103
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Fuel starvation
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 15, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120520017439A
- Case key
- 83791
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power due to fuel flow interruption, which resulted from a stuck carburetor bowl needle.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he taxied to the end of the runway, conducted an engine run-up, and prepared for takeoff. He said that the airplane developed full power during the initial climb but that it began to lose power about 300 feet above ground level. He turned back toward the airport and made an emergency landing in vegetation on the side of the runway. The airplane’s right wing was substantially damaged. Postaccident examination revealed that the carburetor bowl needle was stuck in the closed position. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that he taxied to the end of the runway, conducted a run up, and prepared for takeoff. He said that the airplane developed full power during the initial climb, but began to lose power at approximately 300 feet above ground level. He made a 180-degree turn back towards the runway, but was unable to make it to the airport. He made an off field emergency landing which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. During an examination of the engine, the carburetor bowl needle was found stuck in the closed position. The pilot did not report any flight control malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2355L
- Reported as
- Aero Works Aero Lite 103
- Category
- Ultralight
- Serial number
- A-AWI-121702-127-R50
- Airframe hours
- 264
- Engine
- Rotax 503, 53 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Kenneth F. Carpenter
- Registered owner
- Kenneth F. Carpenter
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 18, 2012 · 2 hours before
- Departed
- Lincolnton, NC
- Destination
- Lincolnton, NC
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- Pvt Field
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 8, 2011
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 537 total · 264 in this make and model · 490 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
- Observed at
- IPJ
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 18, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.5 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.