FTW98LA146

While at 2,000 feet msl, the aircraft's engine rpm decreased to idle, then surged several times, and then went to idle. The pilot 'put full mixture and full prop,' and 'retarded [the] throttle and [then] powered [it] back up.' He then 'switched fuel tanks but nothing made any difference.' He saw a private airstrip entered a left downwind for a north landing. During the landing roll he applied the brakes, and the aircraft 'seemed to skid and go faster.' The aircraft overran the departure end of the 1,960 foot wet grass runway, went through a fence, and the left wing impacted a tree. The aircraft came to a stop about 150 feet beyond the tree with the engine still operating at idle. On March 17, 1998, the engine while still in the aircraft, was started and run. According to the engine manufacturer's representative, 'the engine ran normally, except at idle where it was very rough.' The carburetor was removed from the engine and a teardown inspection was conducted on March 20, 1998. No anomalies were noted.

On March 13, 1989, at 1815 central standard time, a Cessna 182A airplane, N2130G, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power near Jacksonville, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal cross country flight. The private pilot, sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. The flight originated from Nacagdoches, Texas, about 30 minutes prior to the accident.

During a personal interview conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that he works in Nacagdoches, and was returning home to Athens, Texas. While en route north of Jacksonville, at 2,000 feet MSL, the aircraft's engine rpm decreased to idle, then surged several times, and then went to idle. He "put full mixture & full prop," and "retarded [the] throttle and powered [it] back up." He then "switched fuel tanks but nothing made any difference."

The pilot further reported that he then tuned the GPS to the nearest airport, which was the Cherokee County Airport at Jacksonville. He turned the airplane toward the airport and adjusted his airspeed to 90 knots. When the aircraft was about 900 feet and 2.5 miles from the airport, he determined he could not reach the airport. He saw a private airstrip to his left and entered a left downwind for a landing to the north, and set the airspeed to 80 knots. The pilot added that "when I was about where I would normally turn base, I put in 20 degrees flap and flew directly to [the] south end of [the] strip. I flared and landed." During the landing roll he applied the brakes, and the aircraft "seemed to skid and go faster." The aircraft overran the departure end of the 1,960 foot wet grass runway, went through a fence, and the left wing impacted a tree. The aircraft came to a stop about 150 feet beyond the tree with the engine still operating at idle.

Examination of the aircraft by the FAA inspector revealed that the left wing was found separated outboard of its strut, the fuselage was damaged, and a motor mount was fractured.

On March 17, 1998, the engine was started and ran while still mounted in the aircraft. According to the Teledyne Continental Motor's representative, "the engine ran normally, except at idle where it was very rough." The carburetor was removed from the engine and a teardown inspection was conducted on March 20, 1998, at the facilities of J&G Aero Carburetor, Inc. No anomalies were noted.