Casualties unknown

2001-05-05: DE Havilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A (N838KC) — Sonoma, CA

Sonoma, CA, US

On May 5, 2001, a DE Havilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A (registration N838KC) was involved in an aviation accident near Sonoma, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the pilot to properly flush out the fuel system after the header tank became submerged in water, which precipitated a loss of engine power and forced landing in a soft open dirt area. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

While maneuvering to land after a loss of engine power, the right wing struck soft dirt, causing the airplane to invert. Water contamination from a prior incident was found in the carburetor.

Accident Details

During a landing maneuver following an unexplained loss of engine power, the airplane's right wing contacted soft terrain, causing the aircraft to come to rest inverted. The accident occurred as the pilot attempted to land after experiencing the power loss.

Previous Incident

Three weeks before this accident, the same airplane was involved in a separate incident in which it came to rest on its nose, leaving the fuel tank partially submerged in water. After that incident, efforts were made to remove water from the fuel system. However, the header tank, located in the forward portion of the aircraft, was not removed and flushed properly during the cleanup process.

Post-Incident Operations

Following the previous incident, the airplane underwent ground runs with no mechanical anomalies noted. The aircraft was not flown again until the day of the accident.

Engine Examination

During the post-accident engine examination, trace amounts of water were discovered in the carburetor. No other mechanical issues were identified.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20010514X00936. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.