Pilot Debrief

Lien Zodiac 601 XL near Coeur d'Alene, ID — 2008-08-29

Final reportSEA08LA190
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Date
2008-08-29
Location
Coeur d'Alene, ID, USA
Airport
COE
Aircraft
Lien Zodiac 601 XL
Registration
N9881T
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after the engine experienced a loss of power. Contributing to the accident was the mixture control arm separating from the fuel metering valve shaft.

NTSB narrative

As the airplane departed on its maiden flight, witnesses reported hearing the engine "cut out" then start again before completely losing power. The airplane was subsequently observed in "a tight spiral" with its wings "pointing straight up and down" before impacting terrain and sliding into the side of a school building. The airplane came to rest in an inverted position. Fuel was detected at the accident site and there was no post crash fire. A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector reported that the carburetor's mixture control lever had separated from its mixture shaft, and that the carburetor's metering valve shaft appeared to have been slightly bent and grooved for some time.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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