Culver V N44680

Summary

On 17 September 1993 at about 16:15 local time, a Culver V registered N44680 was involved in an accident near Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 September 1993 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Seven Rivers (62M)

Coordinates

32.6097, -104.4504

Aircraft

Culver V

Registration

N44680

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW93LA261

2 people had minor injuries.

AN INADVERTENT STALL WHEN THE PILOT LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR. A FACTOR WAS A LEAKING O-RING IN THE PROPELLER GOVERNOR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF AND CLIMBED TO AN ALTITUDE OF 150 FEET. AS THE PILOT RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR HE NOTICED A LIGHT COLORED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COWLING AND THE ENGINE BEGAN LOSING POWER. THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRPLANE BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT AND ALIGNED IT WITH THE RUNWAY. WHEN THE PILOT LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND THE PILOT COULD NOT RECOVER. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK POWER LINES AND IMPACTED THE GROUND OUT OF CONTROL. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED A DETERIORATED AND LEAKING O-RING IN THE PROPELLER GOVERNOR. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.