On July 26, 1990, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M18A (registration N8154V) operated by Ken Fabel was involved in an aviation accident near Hunter, AR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure to develop sufficient power during takeoff, likely due to accumulated deposits requiring a top overhaul. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported the engine would not develop sufficient power for flight during an attempted takeoff, resulting in a crash into an adjacent field.
What happened
The pilot reported that he had been experiencing difficulty obtaining adequate takeoff power from the engine. To compensate for this issue, he had been running the engine at high RPMs to burn out deposits before each flight. During the incident takeoff attempt, the engine loaded up and failed to produce enough power to maintain controlled flight. The aircraft was unable to climb and subsequently impacted an adjacent field.
The investigation
The source text does not provide details on a mechanical inspection or post-accident examination of the airframe or engine components. It notes that a top overhaul was scheduled to be performed two days after the accident, indicating maintenance was planned but had not yet occurred at the time of the event.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the incident was the engine's inability to develop sufficient power during the takeoff phase. The pilot's prior experience of needing to burn out the engine suggests a pre-existing performance degradation that was not resolved before the flight.
Probable cause
Engine failure to develop sufficient power during takeoff, likely due to accumulated deposits requiring a top overhaul.