Pilot Debrief

CODY HAWKINS JA30 SUPERSTOL near Ponca City, OK — 2017-07-02

Final reportCEN17LA251
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Date
2017-07-02
Location
Ponca City, OK, USA
Airport
PRIV
Aircraft
CODY HAWKINS JA30 SUPERSTOL
Registration
N2463H
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

Contamination of the fuel system, resulting in a partial loss of engine power and subsequent off-airport landing.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot was conducting a local flight in an experimental airplane. During takeoff, the pilot thought that the airplane's performance was sluggish. The pilot indicated that the airplane started to lose lift, so he reduced the control stick input. He maneuvered the airplane around trees, but the airplane continued to descend, so the pilot decided to land. The airplane made a hard landing, causing the airplane's landing gear to collapse because it was sideloaded, and the airplane then skidded into a tree. During a postaccident examination, a repair station noted contamination in one of the fuel jets and both carburetors. After replacing the fuel jet and cleaning the carburetors, the engine produced normal power. The cause of the contamination could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the takeoff when performance felt sluggish.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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