# NTSB SEA96LA196: Westcott Glasair I-FT, N289W, Puyallup, WA, August 21, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 20, 1996, 17:15 local (Aug 21, 1996, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Puyallup, WA - Coordinates: 47.190311, -122.33078 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1903&lon=-122.3308&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42449 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA196 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42449/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA196 ## Probable cause failure of the air inlet screen, and subsequent ingestion of the foam air filter. An inadequate maintenance modification by the amateur builder and no suitable landing area were related factors. ## 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 - induction air control,air filter/screen - failure (cause) - maintenance,modification - inadequate, owner/builder (contributing factor) - induction air control,air filter/screen - ingested (cause) - ram/induction air - blocked(total) (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - vehicle ## Analysis The pilot reported that during climb-out after completing a touch-and-go, the engine lost power at 300 to 400 feet above ground level. The pilot stated that there was not a suitable landing site, and he opted to make a forced landing to a roadway. During touchdown, the airplane collided with two occupied vehicles. An engine inspection revealed that the inlet screen to the carburetor air box had been fabricated with an approximate half-inch square metal meshing. The wire on the screen had broken and had allowed the foam air filter to be sucked into the throat of the carburetor. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 1996, at 1715 Pacific daylight time, a homebuilt Westcott Glasair I-FT, N289W, operated by and registered to the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from Pierce County-Thun Field, Puyallup, Washington. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a city road where, during the landing roll, the airplane collided with two vehicles. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot was not injured. One person in one vehicle was seriously injured, the other person in another vehicle was not injured. The flight departed from Pierce County approximately one-half hour prior to the accident. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to test a newly installed accelerometer. The pilot spent some time performing various maneuvers before returning to the airport to practice touch-and-go landings. After the second takeoff, the pilot stated that at approximately 300-400 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and initiated a forced landing. The pilot stated that an open field was unattainable and there were no other suitable landing sites so he elected to aim for and land on a roadway. During the touchdown, the airplane collided with two occupied vehicles. An inspection of the engine revealed that the inlet screen to the carburetor air box had been fabricated with an approximate half-inch square metal meshing. The wire on the screen broke, allowing the foam air filter to be sucked into the throat of the carburetor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N289W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N289W-2013-07-30), registration cancelled 2013-07-30, S/N 289, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Westcott GLASAIR I-FT (GLASAIR I-) - Registry model: [Westcott Stewart E GLASAIR I-FT](https://openairdocs.org/model/westcott-stewart-e-glasair-i-ft) (registry code 05624L7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 289 - Airframe hours: 106 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert B. Goodman - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 17, 1996, 21 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,982 total, 26 in this make and model, 3,270 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TCM, 15 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 19960821023409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960821023409A), Aug 21, 1996: Amtr GLASAIRIII, Kinston, NC, Substantial damage. Lost power on climbout. Landed on a road. Hit 2 vehicles. Bogus air filter screen broke. Sucked foam into carb. 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.