# NTSB FTW88DRG04: MBB 109, N8575, Harlingen, TX, December 19, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: December 19, 1987, 10:33 local (16:33 UTC)
- Place: Harlingen, TX
- Location: 26.2008° N, 97.6407° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from VALLEY INTL (HRL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.2008&lon=-97.6407&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22509
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88DRG04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22509/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88DRG04

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system,carburetor float - deteriorated (cause)
  - fuel system,carburetor float - movement restricted (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE SET OF FLOATS WHICH ALLOWS A HIGH FUEL FLOW IN THIS CARBURETOR FOR HIGH POWER SETTINGS USED FOR TAKEOFF, CLIMB, ETC., HAD CRACKED AND SWOLLEN TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT THEY WERE RUBBING AGAINST THE FLOAT CHAMBER WALLS AND FLOAT CHAMBER SHROUD TUBES. THIS INTERFERENCE PREVENTED ADEQUATE FUEL FLOW FOR HIGH POWER OPERATION OF THE ENGINE DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB WHICH TERMINATED IN THE ACCIDENT. THERE WERE NO ENTRIES IN THE MAINTENANCE LOGS WHICH INDICATED ANY MAINTENANCE OR INTERNAL EXAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR SINCE THE AIRCRAFT WAS NEW (1959).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8575](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8575-1989-03-21), registration cancelled 1989-03-21, S/N 208 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MBB 109
- Registry model: [Messerschmitt ME 109 C4K](https://openairdocs.org/model/messerschmitt-me-109-c4k) (registry code 5621012) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 208
- Airframe hours: 172
- Engines: Rolls-Royce 500-29 1490 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Confederate Air Force
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 24, 1987, 11 hours before
- Departed: HRL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: HRL, Rio Grande Valley Int., runway 13, 5,950 × 150 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 20,000 total, 8 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 25 knots, gusting 38
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HRL, 2 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 19871219070659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871219070659A), Dec 19, 1987: Amtrhi HA1112, Harlingen, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Engine lost power on climbout due to carburetor float delamination. Aircraft stalled. Drugs found in pilots blood.

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.

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