WAYNESVILLE, OH, USA
N1156V
STINSON L-5
THE PLT TOOK OFF ON A TEST FLT TO CHECK THE ENG AFTER IT HAD BEEN INSPECTED & THE CARBURETOR HAD BEEN OVERHAULED. HE MADE A GROUND CHECK & FULL ENG RUN-UP BEFORE TAKING OFF. INTENDING TO STAY IN A CLOSED TRAFFIC PATTERN, HE TOOK OFF, MADE A NORMAL CLIMB IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, THEN TURNED ONTO A DOWNWIND. WHILE ON DOWNWIND, THE ENG SPUTTERED. THE PLT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS & PUMPED THE THROTTLE, & THE ENG RESTARTED, BUT A FEW SECONDS LATER, IT LOST POWER AGAIN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO THE RWY, THE PLT MADE A 360 DEG TURN TO AVOID A GLIDER & TO LOSE ALT. HE STATED THAT DURING THE MANEUVER, HE LOST SIGHT OF THE GLIDER, & WHILE TRYING TO RELOCATE IT, HE LOST TOO MUCH ALT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASH LANDED IN TREES ABOUT 50 FEET SHORT OF THE RWY. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETOR FLOAT HAD BEEN ADJUSTED FOR 0.25' OF TRAVEL. THE MINIMUM TRAVEL PER INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN 0.50'.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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