# NTSB SEA02LA062: Stadden Flybaby, N1432, Buhl, ID, March 31, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 31, 2002, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Buhl, ID - Coordinates: 42.591388, -114.629997 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5914&lon=-114.6300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 54444 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54444/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54444 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA062 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to return the carburetor heat to the OFF (cold) position prior to applying full power following a touch and go landing, which resulted in poor climb performance and the subsequent impact with a fence and collision with the ground. A contributing factor was the fence. ## 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 - carburetor heat - not removed, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - fence (contributing factor) - aircraft performance,climb capability - reduced - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had been doing touch and go landings at the airport and that on the accident circuit he had applied carburetor heat on the downwind. After executing a normal landing, he applied full power to transition to takeoff on runway 09 however, the aircraft's 75 horsepower Continental engine did not respond to the performance level the pilot was accustomed to. The pilot was able to get the aircraft airborne, but the climb performance was inadequate and the aircraft began to veer right towards several hangars. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft clipped a fence on the south side of the airport, impacted the ground upright and then nosed over. The pilot reported to the investigator that he forgot to turn off the carburetor heat during the landing roll and before the application of power, and that the carburetor heat had been left on throughout the duration of the takeoff attempt and ground impact. ## Factual narrative On March 31, 2002, approximately 1000 mountain standard time, a homebuilt Stadden Flybaby, N1432, registered to and being flown by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when the aircraft collided with a fence during takeoff following a touch and go landing and then nosed over following ground impact at the Buhl Municipal airport (U03), Buhl, Idaho. The pilot suffered minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was being operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Buhl approximately 0915. The pilot reported that he had been doing touch and go landings at Buhl airport and that on the accident circuit he had applied carburetor heat on the downwind. After executing a normal landing, he applied full power to transition to takeoff on runway 09 however, the aircraft's 75 horsepower Continental engine did not respond to the performance level the pilot was accustomed to. The pilot was able to get the aircraft airborne, but the climb performance was inadequate and the aircraft began to veer right towards several hangars. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft clipped a fence on the south side of the airport, impacted the ground upright and then nosed over. The pilot reported to the investigator that he forgot to turn off the carburetor heat during the landing roll and before the application of power, and that the carburetor heat had been left on throughout the duration of the takeoff attempt and ground impact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1432](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1432-2011-02-25), registration cancelled 2011-02-25, S/N 1, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stadden Flybaby - Registry model: [Stadden MODIFIED FLYBABY](https://openairdocs.org/model/stadden-modified-flybaby) (registry code 0562637) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 526 - Engines: Continental A-75 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tadlock, Edward - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 27, 2002, 0 hours before - Departed: U03, Buhl, ID - Destination: U03 - Airport: U03, Buhl Municipal, runway 09, 3,900 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 21, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 588 total, 60 in this make and model, 588 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: TWF, 16 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 20020331005329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020331005329A), Mar 31, 2002: Amtr FLYBABY, Buhl, ID, No damage. (-23) Pilot was practicing takeoff and landings at the buel airport. During his 4th or 5th landing, he touched down very hard and "bounced". His airspeed was… ## Other investigations on N1432 (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 SEA74DYI03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA74DYI03), Jul 21, 1973: Flybaby (N1432), Bandon, OR, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 23, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54444. 324 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 324 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394890&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.