# NTSB FTW93LA261: Culver V, N44680, Carlsbad, NM, September 17, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 17, 1993, 10:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Carlsbad, NM - Coordinates: 32.609668, -104.45037 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6097&lon=-104.4504&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18832 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA261 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18832/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA261 ## Probable cause AN INADVERTENT STALL WHEN THE PILOT LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR. A FACTOR WAS A LEAKING O-RING IN THE PROPELLER GOVERNOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb - propeller system/accessories,governor - leak (contributing factor) - fluid,oil - smoke - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - gear extension - performed, pilot in command - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - wire,static - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF AND CLIMBED TO AN ALTITUDE OF 150 FEET. AS THE PILOT RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR HE NOTICED A LIGHT COLORED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COWLING AND THE ENGINE BEGAN LOSING POWER. THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRPLANE BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT AND ALIGNED IT WITH THE RUNWAY. WHEN THE PILOT LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND THE PILOT COULD NOT RECOVER. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK POWER LINES AND IMPACTED THE GROUND OUT OF CONTROL. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED A DETERIORATED AND LEAKING O-RING IN THE PROPELLER GOVERNOR. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ## Factual narrative On September 17, 1993, at approximately 1015 mountain daylight time, N44680, a Culver V, struck power lines and impacted terrain during a landing approach to Seven Rivers Airport, Carlsbad, New Mexico. The airplane was destroyed, and the private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. According to the pilot, he took off on runway 10 and climbed to 150 feet AGL (above ground level). He raised the landing gear, then noted light colored smoke coming from the right side of the engine cowling and the engine began losing power. The pilot turned back towards the airport and aligned the airplane with runway 22, losing about 50 feet in the process. The pilot saw high power lines ahead. He reported that he lowered the landing gear and the left wing dropped and he "could not recover." When the left wing contacted the power lines control was lost and the airplane impacted the ground. Post-accident investigation disclosed a deteriorated O-ring in the propeller governor was leaking. There was no evidence of fire within the engine compartment. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44680](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44680-1993-11-09), registration cancelled 1993-11-09, S/N V-71, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CULVER V - Registry model: [Culver V](https://openairdocs.org/model/culver-v) (registry code 8730302) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: V71 - Airframe hours: 921 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12-FJH 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Groves, Robert E. & R. Kathlyn - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 1993, 2 hours before - Airport: 62M, Seven Rivers, runway 22, 2,200 × 50 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,643 total, 2 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 8 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CNM, 18 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 19930917034849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930917034849A), Sep 17, 1993: Supac V, Carlsbad, NM, Destroyed. Saw light colored smoke from cowling. Losing power. Struck wires and crashed returning. Prop governor o ring leak. 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.