Ryan NAVION A N4911K

Summary

On 25 July 2011 at about 00:40 local time, a Ryan NAVION A registered N4911K, operated by Liddle Cable Co Inc, was involved in an accident near Torrington, Wyoming, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 July 2011 at 00:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Torrington, Wyoming, United States

Nearest airport

Torrington (TOR)

Coordinates

42.0644, -104.1528

Aircraft

Ryan NAVION A

Registration

N4911K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Liddle Cable Co Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

North Platte → Torrington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11LA346

4 people had minor injuries.

The carburetor’s failure to meet its operating limits at the low range, which resulted in a loss of engine power when the pilot reduced power for landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he leaned the mixture while en route, but could not find the peak performance. He set the mixture control to what he thought it was appropriate for 5,000 to 6,000 feet altitude. As he entered the landing pattern at his destination, he lowered the landing gear and prepared for landing. As he reduced the throttle position, the engine lost all power, and the descent rate increased. The pilot determined that the airplane would not glide to a runway and maneuvered to an open area. The airplane touched down hard, and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The carburetor was removed and connected to a test cell. The unit was found out of limits at the low end of its operating range. Thus, with the fuel mixture leaned and a subsequent reduction in the power for landing, a temporary disruption of the fuel flow caused the engine to sputter and lose power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.