On November 16, 1984, a Piper J3C-65 (registration N77517) operated by Jack Brown Seaplane Base was involved in an aviation accident near Stuart, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loose Adel clamp on the throttle cable, which caused the cable to flex without moving the throttle arm on the carburetor. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft filming a TV commercial at low level over water ditched after the pilot reported insufficient power. Post-crash examination found a loose Adel clamp on the throttle cable.
Incident Overview
An aircraft was flying at low level over water to film a television commercial when the pilot encountered a loss of engine power. The pilot pushed the throttle forward to increase power, but the engine did not respond. Full throttle was applied, yet the engine still produced no additional power. The pilot stated that there was insufficient power to maintain level flight, necessitating a ditching. The aircraft sank after the water landing.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, the throttle input did not result in any engine response. Despite applying full throttle, the engine failed to deliver the required power. The pilot determined that the aircraft could not sustain level flight and executed a ditching maneuver.
Examination Findings
A post-crash examination of the aircraft revealed that an Adel clamp on the throttle cable was loose. This condition caused the throttle cable to flex without moving the throttle arm on the carburetor. The loose clamp prevented the throttle from commanding the desired engine power, leading to the loss of thrust.
Probable cause
Loose Adel clamp on the throttle cable, which caused the cable to flex without moving the throttle arm on the carburetor.