# NTSB MIA97LA166: Travis C. Elmore B2B/582, N43CT, Haines City, FL, May 16, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 16, 1997, 17:03 local (21:03 UTC) - Place: Haines City, FL - Coordinates: 28.099319, -81.619499 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0993&lon=-81.6195&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 7, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38281 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38281/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA166 ## Probable cause The pilots inadvertent activation of the rear carburetor choke lever during routine engine maintenance the day before the accident. Contributing to the accident was the unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing and also failure of the engine manufacturer to include the preflight examination of the choke levers for proper position. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - powerplant controls - inadvertent activation, pilot in command (cause) - checklist - not identified, manufacturer (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The day before the accident flight the pilot added oil to the rotary valve reservoir and while doing so, inadvertently dropped the reservoir cap gasket. He searched for but was unable to locate the gasket and replaced it. The day of the accident he performed a preflight to the airplane using a homemade checklist which did not mention to check the choke for proper position. He checked the engine using the engine manufacturers checklist which only mentioned that the choke be checked for freedom of movement not proper position. He performed an engine run-up before departure with no discrepancies noted. After takeoff during the initial climb, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. During an emergency descent the airplane collided with trees. Post accident examination of the engine by the pilot revealed that the manual choke of the rear carburetor was activated. ## Factual narrative On May 16, 1997, about 1703 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt B2B/582, N43CT, registered to a private individual, collided with trees during takeoff from a private airstrip near Haines City, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot sustained minor injuries. The pilot-rated passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight originated about 1 minute earlier. The pilot stated that the day before the accident while adding oil to the engine rotary valve reservoir, the reservoir cap gasket fell between the cylinders. He searched for the gasket but was unable to locate it and replaced the gasket. He further stated that on the day of the accident he performed a preflight of his airplane using a homemade checklist and performed a preflight of the engine using a checklist provided by the engine manufacturer. He then performed an engine run-up before departure with no discrepancies noted. After takeoff during the initial climb about 100-150 feet above ground level, the engine experienced a gradual loss of power. While descending unable to maintain altitude, the airplane collided and remained suspended in trees. Postcrash examination of the engine by the pilot revealed that the choke lever for the rear carburetor was activated. Review of the engine manufacturer's preflight checklist revealed that the choke is only required to be checked for free and full movement. His homemade checklist did not indicate to check the choke before takeoff for proper position. The choke is manually operated in the accident airplane. Postcrash the engine was operated to full static rpm with no discrepancies noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43CT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43CT-2006-07-26), registration cancelled 2006-07-26, S/N B2B-K061, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Travis C. Elmore B2B/582 - Registry model: [Elmore Travis C B2B/582](https://openairdocs.org/model/elmore-travis-c-b2b-582) (registry code 056030O) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: B2B-K061 - Airframe hours: 16 - Engines: Rotax 582 DCDI 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Travis C. Elmore - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 1997, 15 hours before - Airport: runway 9, 1,687 × 100 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 674 total, 20 in this make and model, 580 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BOW ## 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 19970516010919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970516010919A), May 16, 1997: Haines City, FL, Substantial damage. Lost power on climbout. Settled into trees. Carb choke on. Overlooked in preflight. (-23) the PIC reported a loss of climb power at 200', dropped the nose to… 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.