BOYNTON BEACH, FL, USA
N21WM
MENEAR PITTS S-1S
THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON CLIMB OUT AT 2,500 FEET AGL. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING BY SPIRALING DOWN OVER THE AIRPORT AND OVERSHOT THE RUNWAY. DURING THE SPIRAL THE ENGINE STARTED AND STOPPED 3 TO 4 TIMES. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY FAST, AND BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED AND STOPPED. THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE BELOW A POWER LINE, ACROSS A ROAD AND STARTED A TURN TO AVOID A HOUSING AREA. THE AIRPLANE STALLED, COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN, AND NOSED OVER INTO A CANAL. REVIEW OF REFUELING RECORDS SHOWED THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN 7.31 HOURS ON 50.2 GALLONS OF FUEL. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE BY THE FAA REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PRECRASH FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
On September 29, 1995, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Menear, Pitts S-1S, N21WM, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a reported total loss of engine power during a climb in the vicinity of Boynton Beach, Florida, and crashed during the forced landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Willis Glider Port, Boynton Beach, Florida, about 5 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he was climbing at 2,500 feet agl when the engine quit. He spiraled down over the airport to make a forced landing at the airport, but overshot the runway. During the spiral the engine started and stopped three to four times. He touched down near the end of the runway with a high airspeed, and became airborne again when the engine started and stopped again. He flew the airplane under a power line, across a highway, and made a left turn to avoid a housing area. During the turn the airplane stalled, collided with the terrain, and nosed over into a canal. An airframe and powerplants mechanic stated he has been performing cosmetic restoration on the airplane since July 1994. As part of the restoration the fuel tank was drained and 13 gallons of fuel was added to the airplane on April 15, 1995, at a tach time of 370.40. Additional fuel was added on the following dates: September 14, 1995, 5.0 gallons, September 15, 1995, 7.0 gallons, September 19, 1995, 9.0 gallons, September 21, 1995, 5.0 gallons, September 25, 1995, 4.0 gallons, and September 29, 1995, 7.2 gallons. The mechanic stated when he arrived at the crash site the fire department had placed booms in the water to keep a 6-foot fuel slick from moving. When the airplane was removed from the water, the tach time indicated 377.71, and no gas was present in the gascolator. When the mechanic asked the fire department personnel how much fuel that would equate to, they stated about 1 gallon. The Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Report states, "Aircraft apparently ran out of fuel while trying to land at Willis Glider Port, flew across SR441, crashed into empty field and bounced into canal. amount of fuel spilled was negligible". Examination of the engine assembly and accessories by the FAA revealed no evidence of a failure.
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO MAKE A GO-AROUND AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VSO) RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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