Accident Details
On August 23, 2015, about 1015 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8E airplane, N1406K, was substantially damaged while landing at Oakland County International Airport (KPTK), Pontiac, Michigan. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight had departed Sugar Springs Airpark (5M6), Gladwin, Michigan, about 0830.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, he was cleared to land on runway 27R. He noted that the winds favored runway 18, but that runway was closed for an airshow later that afternoon. During touchdown, the airplane began to "weathervane" into the wind. The pilot applied full right rudder and brake but could not correct the weathervane. He added power to conduct a go-around, but the engine did not respond. The airplane skidded off the runway, struck a runway light and sign, and came to rest on its nose. The right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged.
Post-Accident Inspection
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector responded to the accident. When the carburetor was removed, the fuel inside had a yellow tint and smelled like turpentine with a hint of 100LL. The fuel was drained from the carburetor's fuel bowl. The fuel in the wing tanks was consistent with 100LL in smell and color. The left wing fuel tank contained brown water stains and evidence of corrosion, and the fuel sending unit was tarnished. The fuel tank contained contaminants of unknown origin. The carburetor was sent to the manufacturer for examination and flow testing; it tested slightly rich off idle but was otherwise unremarkable.
Fuel Analysis
A sample of the fuel from the carburetor was analyzed at a laboratory. The chemical composition was consistent with aviation gasolines. Water content analysis revealed a concentration of 102 (plus or minus 20) μg/g in the fuel sample.
Environmental Conditions
Wind at the time of the accident was reported as 170 degrees at 6 knots, resulting in a calculated crosswind component of 6 knots quartering tailwind from the left. Relevant meteorological information indicated a serious risk for carburetor icing at glide power.
Additional Findings
An examination of the remaining airframe, flight controls, fuel system, and engine revealed no further anomalies.