- Date
- February 18, 2006, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Dover-Foxcroft, ME
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N7694EChampion 7FC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 29, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20060218002299A
- Case key
- 63248
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which failed to detect ice in the fuel system, resulting in a loss of engine power during takeoff-initial climb, and an in-flight collision with trees.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
As the airplane reached an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet above ground level after takeoff, the engine lost power. The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to restart the engine, and then made a forced landing. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees and then the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies. The pilot reported to an FAA inspector that he removed the gascolator fuel bowl after the accident, and observed ice in the bottom. He also reported that he performed a complete preflight inspection prior to takeoff.
Factual narrative
On February 18, 2006, at 1015 eastern standard time, a Champion 7FC, N7694E, was substantially damaged, while executing a forced landing after takeoff from Charles A. Chase Jr. Memorial Field Airport (44B), Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, as the airplane reached an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet after takeoff from runway 27, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted, unsuccessfully, to restart the engine, then prepared for a forced landing. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees and then the ground.
Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed both fuel tanks were breached, however they were both one-forth full. The fuel was drained and no contamination was noted. The engine was rotated at the propeller flange and compression, and valve train continuity was confirmed on all cylinders. Examination of the carburetor revealed fuel in the accelerator pump, and the inlet screen contained no contamination.
The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he removed the gascolator fuel bowl after the accident, and observed ice in the bottom. He also reported that he performed a complete preflight inspection prior to takeoff.
The weather reported at Bangor International Airport (BGR), Bangor, Maine, at 0953, included winds from 270 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 16 knots, 10 miles visibility, broken clouds at 3,000 feet, overcast clouds at 4,000 feet, temperature 16 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point -2 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.89 inches Mercury.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7694E
- Reported as
- Champion 7FC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7FC-289
- Airframe hours
- 5,460
- Engine
- Continental C85-12, 95 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Stephen Larrabee
- Registered owner
- Klaus Thalinger
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2005
- Departed
- 44B · Dover-Foxcroft, ME
- Destination
- NONE · Ornville, ME
- Airport
- 44B · Charles Chase Jr. Memorial
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 1, 2005
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 245 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 16 °F, dew point -2 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
- Observed at
- BGR, 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.
Other investigations on N7694E · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.