Accident Details
On October 13, 2018, at approximately 1205 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Avid Flyer (N3HH) was substantially damaged in an accident near Palm Bay, Florida. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight at 1,200 ft mean sea level when the engine rpm began to decrease, eventually losing all power. The pilot was able to restart the engine but could not restore full power. The engine continued to run at a low idle rpm before losing power completely again. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a road. During the landing, the airplane touched down “firmly,” causing the landing gear to collapse and resulting in substantial damage.
Inspection
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and noted substantial damage to the fuselage tube structure. During a test run, the engine started and ran for several minutes at around 3,500 rpm. Both magnetos produced an acceptable drop in rpm when checked.
Findings
The engine was subsequently sent to an overhaul shop for further inspection. Examination revealed a stuck float needle in the carburetor and a clogged carburetor vent line. No probable cause was stated in the official report.