# NTSB FTW00LA061: Taylorcraft DCO-65, N48634, Sherman, TX, January 10, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 10, 2000, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Sherman, TX - Coordinates: 33.609111, -96.599304 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6091&lon=-96.5993&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 January 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48470 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48470/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA061 ## Probable cause A jammed carburetor needle which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent hard forced landing after takeoff. Contributing factors were the fence, trees, and pilot's maneuver to avoid these objects. ## 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 - jammed (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - Hard landing, emergency landing after takeoff - object - fence (contributing factor) - maneuver to avoid obstructions - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis According to the pilot, he departed the private grass airstrip to the south and was turning left crosswind, climbing through 150 feet agl, when the engine lost total power. He attempted to restart the engine, but was not successful. He initiated a forced landing, during which the airplane landed 'hard' as he was maneuvering to avoid a fence and trees. Upon touchdown, the gear collapsed and the airplane slid approximately 100 feet, coming to a stop upright. The pilot disassembled the Stromberg NAS-3A carburetor and observed that the 'needle was stuck in the closed position.' The float and needle were removed and he observed 'scoring wear inside of the needle guide.' He added that 'it took considerable force to free [the needle].' ## Factual narrative On January 10, 2000, at 1600 central standard time, a Taylorcraft DCO-65 airplane, N48634, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power near Sherman, Texas. The airplane was registered to a private individual. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight was originating from the Flying M private grass airstrip at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, he flew the airplane just prior to the accident on a local 40 minute flight, during which he experienced no anomalies with the airframe or engine. He departed to the south from the 2,375-foot airstrip. He turned left crosswind, and the airplane was climbing through 150 feet when the engine lost total power. He stated that the engine "powered down, like fuel was cut off." He initiated a forced landing, during which the airplane touched down "hard" as he was maneuvering to avoid a fence and trees. Upon touchdown, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid approximately 100 feet, coming to a stop upright. An FAA inspector, who examined the airplane at the accident site, reported that the left wing, including the spar, was structurally damaged. She added that both main landing gears separated from the airplane. The pilot disassembled the Stromberg NAS-3A carburetor and observed that the "needle was stuck in the closed position." The float and needle were removed and he observed "scoring wear inside of the needle guide." He added that "it took considerable force to free [the needle]." The airframe and engine underwent their most recent annual and 100 hour inspections, respectively, on November 23, 1999. At the time of the accident, the airframe had accumulated a total of 5,118 hours and the engine had accumulated a total of 1212.15 hours since major overhaul. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48634](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48634), registered now, S/N 5844, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft DCO-65 - Registry model: [Taylorcraft DCO-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-dco-65) (registry code 8850408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5844 - Airframe hours: 5118 - Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Harry H. Carter - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 23, 1999, 6 hours before - Departed: NONE - Airport: NONE, Flying M, runway 36, 2,375 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 2,575 total, 5 in this make and model, 2,575 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 20000110010569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000110010569A), Jan 10, 2000: Pottsboro, TX, No damage. (-23) Pilot took off from grass runway after preflighting airplane. Engine quit on crosswind leg at approximately 150 feet AGL. Pilot applied carburetor heat… 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.