# NTSB NYC04LA219: de Havilland DHC-22A, N665WB, Richmond, VA, September 24, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 2004, 18:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Richmond, VA - Coordinates: 37.406387, -77.524719 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4064&lon=-77.5247&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 60215 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA219 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60215/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA219 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which resulted in fuel contamination and a subsequent loss of engine power. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while attempting a forced landing which resulted in an inadvertent stall followed by the airplane impacting a grassy area next to the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - contamination - Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis After an uneventful departure from the airport, as the airplane was turned to enter the traffic pattern, the engine lost power. The pilot elected to conduct a 180-degree left turn to return to the airport, and during the turn, he overshot the runway. He then turned the airplane to the right to realign with the runway, and at 50 feet above the ground, the right wing stalled. The airplane continued to roll to the right and would not respond to aileron inputs. The airplane impacted a grass area next to the runway; ground looped, and came to rest. Examination of the wreckage revealed that when fuel was drained from the carburetor bowl, the fuel was consistent with automotive fuel, and was contaminated with water and other foreign object debris. A witness stated that the pilot had experienced a similar problem with a sputtering engine on the day prior to the accident, and executed an uneventful forced landing to the airport. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 2004, at 1820 eastern daylight time, a deHavilland DHC-22A, N665WB, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, after experiencing a total loss of engine power after takeoff from the Chesterfield County Airport (FCI), Richmond, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the intention of the flight was to conduct practice takeoffs and landings. The engine started normally, and all preflight checks were normal. The departure from the airport was normal, and as the airplane was turned to enter the traffic pattern, at 650 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The pilot elected to conduct a 180-degree left turn to return to the airport, and during the turn, he overshot the runway. He then turned the airplane to the right to realign with the runway, and at 50 feet above the ground, the right wing stalled. The airplane continued to roll to the right and would not respond to aileron inputs. The airplane impacted a grass area next to the runway; ground looped, and came to rest. According to several witnesses, the airplane had departed from runway 15, and as it was climbing out, the engine began to "sputter." The witnesses then observed the airplane turn to the left, and continue the turn back towards the airport. As the airplane neared the airport, the engine quit, and the airplane descended to the ground. One of the witnesses added that the pilot had experienced a similar problem with a sputtering engine on the day prior to the accident, and executed an uneventful forced landing to the airport. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage after the accident. Fuel was drained from the carburetor bowl, the fuel was consistent with automotive fuel, and contaminated with water and other foreign object debris. The pilot stated to the FAA inspector that he transported automotive gasoline in 5-gallon containers to the airport to fuel the airplane. The airplane was approved for use with automotive fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N665WB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N665WB-2015-05-15), registration cancelled 2015-05-15, S/N C1-0113, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-22A - Registry model: [Dehavilland CHIPMUNK 22A](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-chipmunk-22a) (registry code 2801742) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Dehav ENG GIPSY MAJOR](https://openairdocs.org/engine/dehav-eng-gipsy-major) (registry code 20004, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C1-0113 - Airframe hours: 4435 - Engines: Gipsy Major MK 10 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert L. Tomlinson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2004, 12 hours before - Departed: FCI, Richmond, VA - Airport: FCI, Chesterfield County Airport, runway 33, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 1,454 total, 375 in this make and model, 1,393 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: RIC, 12 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 20040924026789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040924026789A), Sep 24, 2004: Dhav DHC122A, Chesterfield, VA, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft started normal. Run up normal. Mag check normal full power. Run up normal. Aircraft took off on runway 15, Chesterfield county. Climbed to 500… 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.