Howard WEEDHOPPER UNREG

Summary

On 22 October 2000 at about 21:00 local time, a Howard WEEDHOPPER registered UNREG was involved in an accident near Fordsville, Kentucky, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 October 2000 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Fordsville, Kentucky, United States

Coordinates

37.6294, -86.7091

Aircraft

Howard WEEDHOPPER

Registration

UNREG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC01LA022

1 person was seriously injured.

An engine failure for undetermined reasons and the pilot's low altitude flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The uncertificated airplane departed from a private grass strip located at the uncertificated pilot's home. The pilot flew east, down a valley, at an engine power setting of about 5,600 rpm. The engine power then decreased to 2,700 rpm, and the airspeed began to decrease. The pilot lowered the nose after he realized that he had stalled the airplane. As the airplane descended, about 50-60 feet above the ground, the engine power increased to about 5,000 rpm. The airplane began to climb, but the engine power decreased again. The pilot lowered the nose and performed a forced landing to a road. Examination of the engine revealed no abnormalities. When asked if the engine ever lost total power, the pilot replied that it quit just prior to the impact with the ground. The engine manufacturer operating manual indicated that the engine was uncertified, and stated in part, 'This engine, by its design, is subject to sudden stoppage! ...Never fly the aircraft equipped with this engine at locations, airspeeds, altitudes, or other circumstances from which a successful no-power landing cannot be made, after sudden engine stoppage.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.