# NTSB WPR15LA162: Earl Allen Miglet, N414US, Corning, CA, May 16, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 16, 2015, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Corning, CA - Coordinates: 40.013889, -122.340278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0139&lon=-122.3403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 29, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91180 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15LA162 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91180/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91180 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA162 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power during initial climb due to a loose set screw, which allowed the throttle cable rig within the connector to slip. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine controls: power lever](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Earl R Allen MIGLET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md?model=05633JY), [All aircraft, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md) - [Misc hardware: fasteners](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Incorrect use/operation; cases with it: [Earl R Allen MIGLET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md?model=05633JY), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Earl R Allen MIGLET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05633JY), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Earl R Allen MIGLET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05633JY), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Earl R Allen MIGLET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05633JY), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot, who was also the owner/builder of the experimental, amateur-built airplane, was conducting a personal local flight. The pilot reported that, after taking off and while the airplane was between about 100 and 200 ft above ground level (agl) during the initial climb, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The engine power continued to decrease as he climbed the airplane to 300 ft agl. The pilot then chose to land on the remaining available runway. During the landing roll, the airplane's left main landing gear impacted a fence at the end of the runway, which resulted in the separation of the landing gear and substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that a small set screw that actuates the throttle had become loose, which allowed the throttle cable rig within the connector to slip and resulted in the subsequent partial loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On May 16, 2015, about 1400 Pacific daylight time, an Earl Allen Miglet, amateur-built experimental airplane, N414US, was substantially damaged following a partial loss of engine power on initial climb, which resulted in a forced landing at Rancho Tehama Airpark (49CN), Corning, California. The certified airline transport pilot and his sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the proposed local flight, which was being operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. In a statement provided to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that full power was applied on takeoff roll. At 60 mph he rotated and climbed to between 100 to 200 ft, when he observed the rpm decay from 2,350 to 2,200; at 300 ft the rpm had decreased further to 1,900. The pilot stated that with some runway remaining, he elected to abort the climb and land; he touched down with about 300 ft of runway remaining. The pilot further stated that when he was unable to stop on the runway, the airplane impacted a fence at the end of the runway with its left main landing gear, which separated from the airplane. The left wing subsequently impacted the ground and was substantially damaged. The pilot revealed to the NTSB IIC that the loss of power was due to a small set screw, which actuates the throttle, had come loose. The pilot reported that the airplane was built with surplus parts from Russia, and the subject set screw had no serial number. The pilot opined that when building an experimental aircraft with surplus parts from Russia, he would recommend substituting American procedures and parts if Russian parts subject to twisting loads do not have a secondary safety type backup. A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector who performed a postaccident investigation of the engine reported that his inspection of the engine controls revealed that the throttle cable was not fully secure within the fastening hardware of the carburetor throttle body arm. As a result, this allowed the throttle cable rig to slip within the connector. The inspector opined that the loss of engine power was due to the slipping of the throttle cable within the connecting device. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N414US](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N414US), registered now, S/N 41, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EARL ALLEN MIGLET - Registry model: [Earl R Allen MIGLET](https://openairdocs.org/model/earl-r-allen-miglet) (registry code 05633JY) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-series) (registry code 42389, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 41 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 70 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Earl R Allen - Registered owner: Earl R Allen - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 6, 2014 - Departed: 49CN, Corning, CA - Destination: 49CN, Corning, CA - Airport: 49CN, Rancho Tehama Airport, runway 09, 3,750 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; last flight review August 11, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 30,000 total, 70 in this make and model, 25,000 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: RBL, 10 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 20150516006709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150516006709A), May 16, 2015: Earl R Allen MIGLET, Rancho Tehama, CA, Substantial damage. On take off from ranch Tehama, CA airport, the pilot experienced a partial loss of engine power. As he was still over the runway, he elected to land, however,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 11, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91180. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 992 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439994&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Report (item 2, .PDF, 231 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439995&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Report-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 3, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439996&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.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.