# NTSB MIA95LA203: Fairchild 24-G, N27VX, Harold, FL, August 13, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 13, 1995, 11:10 local (16:10 UTC) - Place: Harold, FL - Coordinates: 30.400283, -87.030082 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4003&lon=-87.0301&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37814 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA203 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37814/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA203 ## Probable cause THE ENGINE MISSING FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE TURNING TOWARD A LANDING AREA. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - fuel system,carburetor - loose - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis DURING CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE MISSED SLIGHTLY, BUT A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS NOT PERCEIVED BY THE PASSENGER. THE PILOT INITIATED A RIGHT TURN TOWARD A LANDING AREA USING ABOUT 60 DEGREES OF BANK. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED, ENTERED A SPIN, AND CRASHED. POSTCRASH EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY AND MAGNETOS SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF PRECRASH FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. EXAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR SHOWED THAT THE LOCKING NUT FOR THE MIXTURE CONTROL METERING VALVE WAS LOOSE AND DID NOT HAVE REQUIRED SAFETY WIRE INSTALLED. THE LOOSE VALVE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN IN THAT CONDITION FOR SOME TIME. NO OTHER EVIDENCE OF A CARBURETOR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. ## Factual narrative On August 13, 1995, about 1110 central daylight time, a Fairchild 24, N27VX, registered to a private owner, crashed shortly after takeoff from McCutchan Strip, Harold, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot and one passenger received serious injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated they suffered a partial loss of engine power while climbing through 75 feet during takeoff. As he made a right turn for an emergency landing on the adjacent highway they suffered "a critical power loss." He made a turn to avoid power lines and does not remember any further details. The passenger stated the engine "spit" a little while climbing through 250 feet after takeoff. He did not perceive a loss of engine power and power lines ahead of them were not in the way. The pilot made a right turn with about 60 degrees of bank. The aircraft stalled and entered a spin from which they crashed. Postcrash examination of the engine was performed by an FAA inspector and a mechanic. The engine assembly rotated normally and all cylinders produced compression. The magnetos operated normally. The carburetor bowl contained some clean fuel and no contamination was found. Examination of the carburetor showed the mixture control metering valve assembly locking nut was backed away about three turns and there was no safety wire on the nut. The metering valve assembly was slightly loose in the throttle body. See attached reports. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27VX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27VX-2013-04-17), registration cancelled 2013-04-17, S/N 2929, built 1938 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD 24-G - Registry model: [Fairchild 24 G](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-24-g) (registry code 3370402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Warner SS40&50](https://openairdocs.org/engine/warner-ss40-50) (registry code 64503, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2929 - Airframe hours: 1959 - Engines: WARNER SS-50A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bryan E. Austin - Registered owner: Jack L. Austin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 14, 1994, 15 hours before - Departed: FL - Destination: 2R4, MILTON, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,281 total, 15 in this make and model, 1,234 as pilot in command, 267 in the last 90 days, 88 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PNS, 240 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 19950813023379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950813023379A), Aug 13, 1995: Frchld 24G, Harold, FL, Substantial damage. Reported power loss on climbout. Passenger reported no powerloss but steep climbing turn stall and spin. 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.