# NTSB LAX02LA254: Waco YPF-7, N29904, Dewey, AZ, August 17, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 2002, 14:55 local (21:55 UTC) - Place: Dewey, AZ - Coordinates: 34.890277, -112.421669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8903&lon=-112.4217&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55505 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA254 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55505/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA254 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to a flooded carburetor. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fuel system,carburetor float - cracked (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - fence - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The vintage biplane was in cruise flight at 9,500 feet msl, when the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a narrow dirt road and attempted to reestablish engine power to no avail. The airplane touched down at an airspeed just below 70 mph, and started to decelerate. The lower left wingtip struck a barbed wire fence. The airplane veered to the right, impacted a fence, and nosed over coming to rest inverted. Examination of the engine, under supervision of an FAA inspector, revealed that the carburetor float was cracked, which "resulted in a flooded carburetor". The aircraft maintenance records indicated the carburetor was overhauled 3 months prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 2002, at 1455 mountain standard time, a Waco YPF-7 vintage biplane, N29904, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while in cruise flight near Dewey, Arizona. The airline transport pilot and his passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was owned by STI Enterprises, Inc., of Wilmington, Delaware, and was being operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The cross-country flight originated from the H.A. Clark Memorial Field Airport (P32), near Williams, Arizona, at 1428. The flight's destination was the Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT), near Phoenix, Arizona. The 20,457-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that while in cruise flight at 9,500 feet msl, the engine started to lose power without warning. During the emergency descent, the pilot attempted to restart the engine while looking for a place to land. The pilot located a narrow dirt road and maneuvered the airplane for landing. The airplane touched down on the road at an airspeed just below 70 mph, and the airplane began to decelerate. During the landing roll, the lower right wing tip struck a barbed-wire fence. Subsequently, the airplane veered to the right crossing a ditch, impacting a barbed wire fence where it nosed over and came to rest inverted in a pasture adjacent to the road. The pilot stated that both the upper and lower right wings were destroyed, and the vertical fin and rudder were damaged. The pilot further reported that he topped-off the airplane's fuel tanks prior to departure from P32. The recovery crew drained 30 gallons of fuel from the fuel system prior to the recovery of the airplane. Examination of the engine, under supervision of an FAA inspector revealed that the carburetor float was cracked, which "resulted in a flooded carburetor". The aircraft maintenance records indicated the carburetor was overhauled 3 months prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29904](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29904), registered now, S/N 5401, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Waco YPF-7 - Registry model: [Waco ZPF-7](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-zpf-7) (registry code 9601610) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jacobs R-755B2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-r-755b2) (registry code 35023, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5401 - Airframe hours: 3517.6 - Engines: Jacobs R755-7 245 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Arvin C. Schultz - Registered owner: STI Enterprises Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 2002, 31.6 hours before - Departed: P32, Williams, AZ - Destination: DVT, Phoenix, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 26, 2002; seat: rear; flight hours: 20,457 total, 201 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 12 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: PRC, 10 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 20020817019929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020817019929A), Aug 17, 2002: Waco YPF7, Dewey, AZ, Substantial damage. (.19) On August 17, 2002, at 1500 pacific daylight time, a Waco YPF-7 vintage airplane, N29904, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a… 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.