Accident Overview
On July 24, 2011, at approximately 1840 mountain daylight time, a Ryan Navion A, registration N4911K, made an off-airport forced landing following a loss of engine power near Torrington, Wyoming. The pilot, who was also the owner, was operating the airplane under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot and three passengers sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage from impact forces. The cross-country personal flight departed North Platte, Nebraska, at about 1635, with a planned destination of Torrington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported that about 30 to 45 minutes from Torrington, he attempted to lean the mixture but could not find peak. He continued leaning the mixture looking for engine roughness but became concerned he would hit cutoff and stop the engine. He set the mixture control to where he thought it was appropriate for 5,000 to 6,000 feet, approximately 1/2 inch extended from full rich. The pilot descended the airplane over the airport and flew upwind along the runway to check the windsock and for obstructions. At the end of runway 010, about 1,000 feet above ground level, he made a left turn to the downwind leg with the landing gear and flaps down. After leveling the airplane, he started to reduce the throttle, and the engine lost power.
Forced Landing and Impact
The pilot lowered the airplane's nose, thinking the airplane could glide to runway 20. As airspeed decreased, he lowered the nose further but realized the airplane would not reach the other runway. Maintaining a wings-level attitude, he flew straight ahead toward open terrain. Just before impact, he flared the airplane, and it touched down hard onto its main wheels followed by the nose wheel. The propeller contacted the ground, and both main landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded about 80 feet before stopping, and all occupants exited.
Postaccident Examination
The airframe and engine were examined at Beegle's Aircraft in Greeley, Colorado, on August 24, 2011. The carburetor was examined at Front Range Fuel Systems in Loveland, Colorado, on August 26, 2011. Detailed reports are part of the public docket.
Airframe Examination
During the airframe exam, the wings had been removed during recovery. The fuselage had no signs of oil along its sides. The bottom of the nose cowl sustained inward crush damage at the air filter, which was packed with dirt and grass. No preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure was found that would have precluded normal operation.
Engine Examination
The postaccident engine examination was conducted with the engine in place on the airframe. No mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation.
Carburetor Examination
The carburetor was a Bendix P55C, part number 380223-8, serial number 723670. As the testing technician removed fittings to set up the carburetor on the test bench, fluid dripped from all fittings. The carburetor was connected to the test cell and was found out of limits at the low end of the test flows. The technician stated that if the pilot had the airplane leaned and pulled the throttle back, there could be a temporary disruption of fuel flow, potentially causing the engine to sputter and lose power.