A PITTS BIPLANE IN CRUISE AT 3000 FT INCURRED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND LANDED OFF FIELD. CAUSED BY PLUGGED FUEL INJECTORS.

Narrative

WHILE FLYING MY PITTS ON THE WAY BACK HOME THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. I THEN EXECUTED A 180 DEG TURN BACK TO SALLISAW ARPT. THE ENGINE CONDITION WORSENED AND I ELECT TO NOT ENDANGER PEOPLE ON THE GND IN THE CITY OF SALLISAW (BECAUSE THE ARPT IS ON THE FAR SIDE OF TOWN.) THEREFORE; I LANDED DEAD STUCK ONTO HWY 59 IN OKLAHOMA. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE AIRPLANE OR ANY PROPERTY ON PERSONS. DISENGAGED THE AIRPLANE AND TRUCKED IT HOME ABOUT 20 MILES. ON INSPECTION I FOUND REMAINS OF AN INSECTS BODY IN THE SCREEN FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM AND VERY SMALL PARTICLES IN THE FUEL INJECTION NOZZLE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TROUBLE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE AIRPLANE HAS A SHAW AERO EXPANDER FUEL CAP WHICH HAD CORROSION ON THE LOWER TANK SIDE SURFACE DROPPING CADMIUM PLATING INTO THE TANK. THE RPTR SAID THE PLATING PASSED THROUGH THE FINE .025 INCH METAL FUEL SCREEN AND PLUGGED THE INJECTORS. THE RPTR STATED HIS IS AN ISOLATED CASE AS ALL ACROBATIC AIRPLANES USE PAPER FUEL FILTER AND HAD THIS ENGINE BEEN CONVERTED THIS INCIDENT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. THE RPTR SAID THE SWITCH OVER TO THE PAPER FILTER WAS PUT OFF; BUT HAS NOW BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. THE RPTR STATED THE FIRST FINDINGS THAT BUGS OR INSECTS CAUSED THE LOSS OF POWER WAS IN ERROR.