EATON RAPIDS, MI, USA
N4301D
BRADFORD PIETENPOL SKYSCOUT
DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT FROM TAKEOFF, THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE'S ENGINE SURGED ONCE ACCORDING TO THE PILOT STATEMENT. UPON CLEARING TREES LOCATED ALONG THE DEPARTURE PATH, THE PILOT STATED HE TURNED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT AT AN ALTITUDE OF 30 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. DURING THE TURN THE PILOT STATED THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE CARBURETOR NEEDLE AND SEAT WERE BURRED. THE NEEDLE WOULD STICK IN THE CLOSED POSITION WHEN SEATED.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 21, 1993 at 1620 hours, EDT, a Pietenpol Sky Scout, N4301D registered to Kyle R. Bradford of Eaton Rapids, Michigan and operated by a Commercially certified pilot crashed in a plowed field east of the owners private airfield. The accident occurred during the takeoff phase of operation while on a pleasure flight. VFR weather conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the pilot received minor injuries. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The home built Pietenpol aircraft, N4301D was built in 1992. The aircraft maintenance records indicate that the aircraft was certified and maintained in accordance with the FARs. The records also indicate the aircraft has accumulated approximately 90.5 hours of time in service since manufacture date. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The aircraft was substantially damaged on ground impact. The left wing tip, which took the initial impact, was badly damaged for approximately 5 feet. The right wing was intact and received very little damage. The fuselage received damage only at the forward side, where the engine mounts to fuselage because of the engine impact to the ground. The right main landing gear strut received major damage and was partially torn form the fuselage at the weld joint. The left main landing gear strut received very little damage. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION The pilot received cuts and bruised in the eye and nose area with a broken nose. He received eight stitched and was released from the Eaton Rapids Medical Facility. He also has a very sore back. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The carburetor, manufacture; Zenith, series 267, universal type, was removed from engine and a teardown inspection conducted. Found the Float Needle/Seat burred and would stick in the closed position when the defects of the Needle matched the defects of the Seat. The wreckage was released to the owner on August 24, 1993, via a NTSB Form 6120.15.
the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertant stall. Factors related to the accident were the low altitude and the restricted movement of the carburetor needle.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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