# NTSB LAX96LA311: Atkinson Varieze, N3LV, Glendale, AZ, August 17, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 1996, 16:28 local (23:28 UTC) - Place: Glendale, AZ - Coordinates: 33.530475, -112.179969 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5305&lon=-112.1800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 16, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29539 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA311 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29539/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA311 ## Probable cause The fracture and separation of the mixture control cable housing from the carburetor mounting bracket, which resulted in fuel starvation due to an overlean condition, and the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while stretching the glide to the field which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush and a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - mixture control,cable - separation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed(vref) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after departure he headed toward a nearby USAF base to make a low approach to their runway. After receiving a clearance to enter the base airspace the pilot turned toward the airbase and applied full throttle. Shortly after that, the engine suddenly quit, restarted briefly, then quit altogether. The pilot said he set up for a forced landing in a vacant field and was just able to make the field but the aircraft landed hard. The landing gear broke and separated from the aircraft, then it cartwheeled. The engine and airframe were inspected by an FAA airworthiness inspector who reported that he found the mixture cable housing broken where it entered the securing bracket to the carburetor. The cable would pull the mixture lever to the idle cutoff position but would not push the lever toward the rich position. The inspector further noted that the cable, which appeared to be a bicycle or motorcycle part, was too short for the application. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 1996, at 1628 mountain standard time, a homebuilt experimental Atkinson Varieze airplane, N3LV, collided with the ground in a vacant field near the Glendale, Arizona, airport while attempting a forced landing. The forced landing was precipitated by a complete loss of engine power during cruise. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local area personal flight. The aircraft incurred substantial damage and the certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at the Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, on the day of the accident at 1600. The pilot reported that after departure he headed toward a nearby USAF base to make a low approach to their runway. After receiving a clearance to enter the base airspace the pilot turned toward the airbase and applied full throttle. Shortly after that, the engine suddenly quit, restarted briefly, then quit altogether. The pilot said he set up for a forced landing in a vacant field and was just able to make the field but the aircraft landed hard. The landing gear broke and separated from the aircraft, then it cartwheeled. The engine and airframe were inspected by an FAA airworthiness inspector from the Scottsdale, Arizona, Flight Standards District Office. The inspector reported that he found the mixture cable housing broken where it entered the securing bracket to the carburetor. The cable would pull the mixture lever to the idle cutoff position but would not push the lever toward the rich position. The inspector further reported that the cable, which appeared to be a bicycle or motorcycle part, was too short for the application. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3LV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3LV-2013-06-06), registration cancelled 2013-06-06, S/N 1, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Atkinson VARIEZE - Registry model: [Atkinson Vance VARIEZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/atkinson-vance-varieze) (registry code 056093A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 627 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Steven L. Worne - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 25, 1995, 67 hours before - Departed: DVT, PHOENIX, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 196 total, 66 in this make and model, 122 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 14 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 106 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19960817028309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960817028309A), Aug 17, 1996: Amtrru VARIEZE, Glendale, AZ, Substantial damage. Lost power on local flight. Made hard forced landing and cartwheeled. Mixture cable broke. Engine idled. Bogas part 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.