On July 6, 1995, a Piper PA-25-235 (registration N9188T) was involved in an aviation accident near Maricopa, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: an undetermined internal failure of the carburetor. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a glider tow takeoff, a pilot experienced power loss with black smoke. After releasing the glider, he performed a forced landing on soft desert soil, resulting in landing gear collapse and left wing damage. The carburetor was too damaged for inspection.
Incident Overview
A pilot reported a loss of power while towing a glider during the initial climb phase of takeoff. The aircraft was approximately 50 feet above ground level when the pilot noticed a reduction in engine power accompanied by black smoke trailing from the aircraft. The pilot immediately released the glider, but determined that the altitude and aircraft energy were insufficient to execute a return to the runway.
Forced Landing and Damage
The pilot executed a forced landing onto soft desert soil. During the landing rollout, the landing gear collapsed and the left wing sustained damage.
Engine Examination
A preliminary examination of the engine revealed heavy sooting on all spark plugs. No external evidence of a catastrophic failure was noted.
Carburetor Assessment
The pilot indicated a belief that an internal malfunction of the carburetor was responsible for the power loss. Subsequently, an FAA airworthiness inspector examined both the engine and carburetor. The inspector reported that the carburetor was too badly damaged to allow any determination regarding potential discrepancies.