Rockford, IL, USA
N514KP
Irwin Sonex 2180
The experimental amateur-built airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with trees and terrain during a forced landing. The pilot reported the throttle stuck during cruise flight. The pilot attempted to get the sticking throttle to release and the throttle stuck in idle position. The kit manufacturer's examination of the throttle cable and carburetor concluded: "The throttle cable was not supported/attached to anything from the firewall to the cockpit control knob. There was a large amount of flex in the cable when the control knob was pushed when resistance was applied to the Carb End of the cable. The only anchor on the throttle cable was a "through the firewall" clamp. ... The AeroCarb was disassembled. ... Nothing internally was found that would cause it to stick."
On February 27, 2006, about 1645 central standard time (cst), an experimental amateur-built Irwin Sonex 2180 airplane, N514KP, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with trees and terrain during a forced landing near Rockford, Illinois. The personal flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot reported that he sustained no injuries. The flight originated from the Poplar Grove Airport (C77), near Poplar Grove, Illinois, at 1615. The pilot's accident report, in part, stated: Aircraft departed C77 on a personal, recreational flight at approximately 415 pm cst. Pilot performed several throttle sticking tests in the immediate vicinity of C77 and all was o.k. Pilot cruised north of Rockford, IL at approximately 2200 [feet above mean sea level] at 2800 rpm. Just north of Cottonwood Airport (IC8) pilot attempted to increase throttle. It stuck. Pilot attempted to get sticking to release [and] throttle stuck in idle position. Pilot turned toward Cottonwood but when he determined it was out of range, he picked the best available corn field. Upon approach, he pulled up over electrical wires [and] a wind gust pushed the plane into the top of a tree about 25 [feet] up. After impacting the tree, the plane stopped forward movement and fell tail first to the ground. ... The craft then tipped onto its top. Pilot exited through broken canopy. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector and a representative from the kit manufacturer examined the wreckage to include the throttle cable and carburetor. The kit manufacturer stated: When disconnected from the carb, the Throttle Cable was found to be quite stiff compared to others Sonex Aircraft, LLC has experience with. Note that the owner stated it was smoother prior to the incident. The throttle cable was not supported/attached to anything from the firewall to the cockpit control knob. There was a large amount of flex in the cable when the control knob was pushed when resistance was applied to the Carb End of the cable. The only anchor on the throttle cable was a "through the firewall" clamp. ... The AeroCarb was disassembled. No internal flaws or defects were found other than some very minor scratches. Nothing internally was found that would cause it to stick. ... The Sonex website, www.sonexaircraft.com, was reviewed. The site contains links to service bulletins to include bulletins in reference to sticky throttles.
The loss of engine power due to the restricted movement of the throttle cable during cruise flight. A factor in the accident was the trees contacted during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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