# NTSB SEA08LA206: Stearman C3-B, N3440, Stevenson, WA, September 20, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 20, 2008, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Stevenson, WA - Coordinates: 45.693054, -121.884445 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6931&lon=-121.8844&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68963 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08LA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68963/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA206 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation from a piece of disintegrating gasket material that was blocking the fuel jet. Also causal was the failure of maintenance personnel to verify the condition of the gaskets when the carburetor was examined prior to installation on the engine. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Stearman C2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=8560205), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Stearman C2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=8560205), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061500): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Stearman C2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061500/cases.md?model=8560205), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Stearman C2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=8560205), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Stearman C2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=8560205), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Stearman C2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=8560205), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Stearman C2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8560205), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had completed a cross-country flight reenacting the airmail route. During the flight, the pilot had applied carburetor heat, but the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful; he then performed a forced landing in a field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a tree and sustained substantial damage. While the pilot had purchased the engine and carburetor that were over 60 years old, they were in new condition and had been in storage. A maintenance facility bench tested the carburetor and it checked within limits, but due to its pristine condition it was not disassembled prior to installation on the engine. The carburetor operated for 110 hours before disintegrating gasket material entered into the main fuel jet and disrupted the fuel flow, which allowed the engine to lose power. Postaccident examination of the carburetor showed that after the gasket material was removed from the jet the carburetor operated normally. ## Factual narrative On September 20, 2008, at 0945 Pacific daylight time, N3440, a Stearman C3-B, collided with a tree during a forced landing near Stevenson, Washington. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he had completed a cross-country flight to reenact the airmail route, and was part of a flight of two flying down the Columbia River. During the flight, the pilot had applied carburetor heat, but the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine, was unsuccessful, and then performed a forced-landing in a field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a tree and sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that he purchased the engine and carburetor that were manufactured in about 1945, and when he purchased them, they were in new condition. Post accident examination of the carburetor showed that a piece of gasket material had entered into the main fuel jet. The gasket material was removed and the carburetor operated normally. Prior to installation of the carburetor onto the engine, it was inspected and bench tested by a maintenance facility. According to the facility, the carburetor tested within the specified limits and was installed on the accident airplane engine where it operated for 110 hours prior to the accident. The carburetor was not disassembled prior to the installation because it appeared to be in pristine condition. The facility indicated that in the future they will disassemble all older parts to check the components that might deteriorate over time. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3440](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3440), registered now, S/N 104, built 1927 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STEARMAN AIRCRAFT C3-B - Registry model: [Stearman C2](https://openairdocs.org/model/stearman-c2) (registry code 8560205) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Austro E4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/austro-e4-series) (registry code 06400, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 104 - Airframe hours: 1290 - Engines: P & W R-985 SERIES 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Tobin Larry F - Registered owner: Tobin Larry F - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2008, 110 hours before - Departed: UAO, Portland, OR - Destination: PSC, Pascoe, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 24, 2007; seat: rear; flight hours: 24,235 total, 110 in this make and model, 105 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 12 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: CZK, 3 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 20080920846519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080920846519A), Sep 20, 2008: Strman C3B, Stevenson, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) On Saturday, September 20, 2008 at approximately 0945 local time, the PIC on N3440 was en-route from aurora airport (uao) to felts field (sff) when the… ## Other investigations on N3440 (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 WPR11CA336](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA336), Jul 16, 2011: Stearman C3-B (N3440), Spokane, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control on landing. Contributing to the accident was the touch down in a slide-slip. 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.