# NTSB FTW91FA025: Piper PA28-181, N8460Q, Olla, LA, December 16, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 15, 1990, 22:23 local (Dec 16, 1990, 04:23 UTC)
- Place: Olla, LA
- Coordinates: 31.889827, -92.229347 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8898&lon=-92.2293&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23239
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW91FA025
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23239/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91FA025

## Probable cause

THE COLLAPSED CARBURETOR FLOAT AND RESTRICTED MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL METERING NEEDLE. FACTORS WERE THE DARKNIGHT, THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, AND THE OPERATOR'S MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL FAILURE TO INSPECT (REPAIR) THE ENGINE.

## 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 - collapsed (cause)
  - fuel system,carburetor float - movement restricted (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - disregarded, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER (MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION) DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB OUT FROM THE AIRPORT AT NIGHT. WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING THE ENGINE SURGING AS IT PASSED OVER OR NEAR THEIR LOCATIONS. THE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN TO THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT WHEN THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND. IT COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL TREES AS IT DESCENDED THEN IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR REVEALED THAT ONE SIDE OF THE FLOATS WAS COLLASPED AND THE 'U' ARM WAS DISTORTED WHICH INTERMITTENTLY RESTRICTED THE MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL METERING NEEDLE. THE PILOT WHO RENTED THIS AIRPLANE JUST PRIOR TO THIS PILOT REPORTED A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE ON TAKEOFF. THE OPERATOR WAS NOTIFIED. NO RECORD OF ANY CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE ACTION COULD BE LOCATED WHERE THE AIRLANE WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8460Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8460Q-1999-02-17), registration cancelled 1999-02-17, S/N 28-8290056 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8290056
- Airframe hours: 4532
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Tillman Aero
- Registered owner: Johnny W Levasseur
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 26, 1990, 13 hours before
- Destination: BTR, BATON ROUGE, LA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 122 total, 20 in this make and model, 84 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AEX, 30 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 19901215054319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901215054319A), Dec 15, 1990: Piper PA28181, Olla, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Engine faltered on climbout. Crashed into trees. Carburetor float collapsed,u arm bent. Prior squawk went unattended

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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