Pilot Debrief

FLEETWOOD JACK TEAM AIRBIKE near Ocean Springs, MS — 2017-10-11

Final reportANC18LA002
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Date
2017-10-11
Location
Ocean Springs, MS, USA
Airport
5R2
Aircraft
FLEETWOOD JACK TEAM AIRBIKE
Registration
N7566D
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

An intermittent failure of the power take-off cylinder ignition coil, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.

NTSB narrative

During a prebuy inspection flight, the airline transport pilot reduced engine power to test the airplane's slow-speed handling characteristics. He then increased the throttle to restore full engine power, but the engine seemed to "bog down" and lose power. He then lowered the airplane's nose, and engine power was restored. The pilot then chose to return to the airport, and while on approach, the engine again began to lose power, but lowering the airplane's nose did not increase the rpm this time. The pilot realized the airplane would be unable to reach the airport, so he conducted an off-airport landing in a residential area, during which the airplane impacted a fence. A postaccident engine run revealed that, after running at various power settings, when the power was reduced, the engine bogged down and backfired through the power takeoff (PTO) carburetor, and the rpm would not increase. The PTO cylinder ignition coil was replaced with a serviceable coil, and the engine was restarted for several minutes and run through various power setting. The engine accelerated normally without backfiring, hesitating, or stumbling. It is likely that, during the accident flight, the PTO cylinder ignition coil broke down, which resulted in an intermittent spark at the PTO spark plug and a partial loss of engine power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the flight after initial engine issues during slow flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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