On December 16, 1995, a Bellanca 7ECA (registration N990WY) was involved in an aviation accident near Mason, MI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the improper application of the throttle by the pilot resulting in a delayed engine response, and the improper decision by the pilot to make a long fast touchdown requiring the need to take off under powerlines. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a touch-and-go at a private strip, the engine did not respond to throttle inputs. The airplane struck a utility pole, trees, and a fence, then nosed over in a ditch.
Incident Overview
A pilot attempted a touch-and-go landing at his private airstrip. The approach was planned to touch down at a higher speed to practice a two-wheel landing. The airplane landed halfway down the strip. When the pilot applied power to initiate the takeoff, the engine failed to respond. The pilot described the engine sound as "like someone putting a hand over the carburetor," noting that the engine was running but not gaining revolutions per minute (rpm).
Sequence of Events
The pilot advanced the throttle, then retarded it, and advanced it again. By this time, the airplane had traveled two-thirds of the length of the runway. The pilot decided to continue the takeoff. The private strip has a powerline crossing 175 feet before the end of the runway. As the airplane passed under the powerline, the engine suddenly responded with full power. The left wing struck a utility pole supporting the powerline along the side of the strip. After the impact, the airplane struck two trees and a wood fence before nosing over in a ditch beside a road.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed continuity of flight controls and no mechanical anomalies in the engine or engine controls.