On July 10, 2000, a Stinson 108-1 (registration N9442K) was involved in an aviation accident near Topeka, KS. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the restricted fuel line, and the pilot not attaining proper runway alignment during the forced landing. Factors were the low altitude at which the engine failure occurred, and the landing gear overload. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot experienced a loss of engine power during initial climb from a private airstrip, performed troubleshooting, then experienced another power loss during a second takeoff, resulting in a hard landing that collapsed the right main gear and caused substantial damage.
Event Details
The airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on initial climb from a private airstrip. The pilot reported that after flying for about 10 minutes, a "miss developed in [the] engine." The pilot elected to land and then drained fuel from the gascolator and carburetor bowl. No debris or water was found in the fuel samples. The pilot then started the engine and performed an extended run-up, during which the engine appeared to operate normally.
Subsequent Takeoff and Landing
The pilot proceeded to take off, but during the climb out, the engine lost power again. The pilot elected to land the aircraft on the runway in the opposite direction of takeoff. The pilot stated that he "landed hard on [the] right main gear collapsing it [and] dropping on to [the] right wing and slid to [a] stop on [the] edge of [the] runway."
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the aircraft failed to reveal any anomalies that could be associated with a preexisting condition. The pilot noted that the fuel line from the gascolator to the carburetor appeared to have had the rubber liner shaved by the fitting during assembly, which could restrict the flow of fuel.