# NTSB NYC94LA131: Donovan DER Kricket 17K-1, N41MD, Brockport, NY, July 19, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 19, 1994, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Brockport, NY
- Coordinates: 43.209907, -77.939041 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2099&lon=-77.9390&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38795
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38795/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA131

## Probable cause

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS A RESULT OF A STICKING VALVE IN THE CARBURETOR DUE TO DIRT CONTAMINATION.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system,carburetor - contamination (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ground (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE PERFORMED NORMALLY DURING TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 28.  AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 100 FEET, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER.  THE PILOT CONDUCTED A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD.  THE WINGS WERE DAMAGED DURING THE LANDING.  FAA EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED DIRT CONTAMINATION OF THE 'POSA' CARBURETOR, RESULTING IN A STICKY VALVE.

## Factual narrative

On Tuesday, July 19, 1994, at 1800 eastern daylight time, a  Donovan Der Kricket, N41MD, an experimental homebuilt airplane, registered to and piloted by Mark W. Donovan, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing in Brockport, New York.  The pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.  The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot conducted a takeoff from runway 28 at the Ledgedale Airport, Brockport, New York.  He stated that the "engine and takeoff run was normal."   He said that at an altitude of 100 feet, there was a loss of engine power.  He initiated a forced landing to a field, and during the landing roll, the airplane wings were damaged.

Mr. Pedro L. Munoz, a Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Inspector, examined the wreckage.  In a report he stated:

The owner and I took the carburetor apart.           We believe the cause for the loss of the            engine rpm was old dirt in the carburetor           valve.

The airplane had a total of 28.1 hours airframe time, and it had flown 5.3 hours since the last annual inspection.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41MD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41MD-2003-03-18), registration cancelled 2003-03-18, S/N 95, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DONOVAN DER KRICKET 17K-1 (DER KRICKE)
- Registry model: [Donovan Mark W DER KRICKET](https://openairdocs.org/model/donovan-mark-w-der-kricket) (registry code 05649CJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 95
- Airframe hours: 28
- Engines: Volkswagen 1835-CC 60 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mark W. Donovan
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 19, 1994, 5 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 650 total, 21 in this make and model, 590 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F

## 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 19940719018829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940719018829A), Jul 19, 1994: Amtr DERKRIKETDK1, Brockport, NY, Substantial damage. Lost power on climbout. Landed off end runway. Dirt in carburetor needle valve.

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.

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