# NTSB NYC01LA184: Pohl Lancair IV-P, N488SD, Fryeburg, ME, July 23, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 2001, 09:33 local (13:33 UTC) - Place: Fryeburg, ME - Coordinates: 43.987499, -70.1025 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9875&lon=-70.1025&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 52781 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52781/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA184 ## Probable cause A partial blockage of the air intake system, due to the pilot's failure to ensure the engine compartment was clear of paper towels after a maintenance inspection. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, climb - to cruise - induction air ducting - blocked(partial) (cause) - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, owner/builder (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency ## Analysis The pilot departed on a cross-country flight in an experimental airplane. While climbing through 8,000 ft, the engine lost manifold pressure, and the pilot was unable to restore climb power. He headed toward a nearby airport, and planned on a straight-in approach. Due to the low altitude of the airplane, he elected to hold the landing gear until he was close to the runway. When he extended the landing gear, there was insufficient time for full extension, and the airplane touched down about 100 feet short of the runway, with partial landing gear extension. Examination of the airplane revealed the remains of a paper towel in the turbocharger and intercooler. The pilot had completed his phase 1 flight time requirements and the accident flight was the first flight following an inspection in which the engine cowling had been removed. Paper towels were used as wipes on both the engine and airframe. The pilot was assisted by several persons, some of whom were not rated aviation mechanics. The pilot later reported that a paper towel had inadvertently been left on top of the engine. The airplane was powered by a converted automotive V-8 engine. The engine was equipped with an air filter. However, there was also a 5-inch by 10-inch opening on the back of the engine which allowed unfiltered air into the air intake manifold. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 2001, at 0933 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Lancair IV-P, N488SD, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Fryeburg, Maine. The certificated private pilot/builder and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot/builder reported that he had departed from Lewiston, Maine, and was en route to Buffalo, New York, with a final destination of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. About 10 minutes after departure, he was climbing through 8,000 feet for 14,500 feet, when the manifold pressure, which had been about 34 inches, dropped to about 15 inches. He checked his GPS for the closest airport, which was Fryeburg, about 12 nautical miles to the north. He turned toward the airport and set up a descent at 120 KIAS. He said that he did not declare an emergency at that time and thought he would be able to make the airport. As the airplane descended through 3,000 feet, the manifold pressure, which had been steadily decreasing, decreased to 4 inches. The pilot reported that at that point he retarded the propeller control to its maximum pitch position to reduce drag, and reduced his airspeed to about 100 KIAS. The pilot/builder positioned the airplane for a straight-in approach to runway 32. As the airplane neared the runway, he decided to hold the landing gear due to the lower-than-anticipated altitude of the airplane. When he did extend the landing gear, there was insufficient time to complete the extension, and the airplane touched down about 100 feet short of the runway with the landing gear only partially extended. The airplane then slid onto the runway and came to a stop. According to an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the composite blades of the propeller were broken off, the bottom of the fuselage was scraped, and there was a fuel spill from where the right wing fuel tank was broken open. The remains of a paper towel were found in the turbocharger and intercoolers. The pilot reported that he had just completed his phase 1 flight time requirements after building the airplane, and had inspected it. During the inspection, several people, some of whom were not rated mechanics, assisted. The engine cowling had been removed, and paper towels were used as wipes on various parts of the engine and airplane. Several paper towels were reported to be lying loose on the ground at the completion of the inspection. In addition, the pilot/builder told the FAA inspector that a paper towel had inadvertently been left on the top of the engine. The FAA inspector also noted that there was a 5-inch by 10-inch opening in the back of the engine, which allowed unfiltered air into the air intake manifold. The accident flight was the first flight following the inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N488SD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N488SD-2009-03-12), registration cancelled 2009-03-12, S/N LIV-008, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Pohl Lancair IV-P - Registry model: [Pohl Douglas A LANCAIR IV-P](https://openairdocs.org/model/pohl-douglas-a-lancair-iv-p) (registry code 05610NM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: LIV-0008 - Airframe hours: 45.1 - Engines: Aero Engines AV8-470 420 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 9, 2001, 45.1 hours before - Departed: LEW, Lewiston, ME - Destination: IZG, Fryeburg, ME - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: IZG, Fryeburg, runway 32, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 17, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 393 total, 33 in this make and model, 367 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: LEW, 29 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 20010723017949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010723017949A), Jul 23, 2001: Amtr LANCAIRIVP, Fryeburg, ME, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was on a VFR flight from auburn/lewiston, ME (lew) to buffalo, NY (buf). Approximately 15 miles southwest of auburn/lewiston (lew) while climbing… ## Other investigations on N488SD (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA08LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08LA134), Jul 7, 2008: Douglas A. Pohl Lancair IV-P (N488SD), Hollywood, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. 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.