N40888

On March 15, 1999, at 1420 central standard time (cst), a Piper J5A, N40888, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Wausau, Wisconsin, after a loss of engine power during cruise flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries to himself or his passenger. The flight originated at Wausau Downtown Airport, Wausau, Wisconsin, at 1400 cst for a local flight.

The aircraft came to rest in an inverted attitude in a snow-covered field within one-half mile of the Wausau Downtown Airport.

In a written report, the pilot stated that the aircraft owner informed him that the carburetor had previously experienced problems with the float sticking. The pilot stated that the aircraft owner and he started the engine and shut off the fuel allowing the engine to quit. The pilot stated that the owner said that this would fix the problem. The pilot stated that after leveling off, after takeoff, the engine rpm dropped and he applied carburetor heat and the engine quit.

The aircraft owner stated, in a telephone conversation, the aircraft had experienced problems with the carburetor float sticking. The aircraft owner stated that he had flown the airplane the previous day when the engine quit after a normal landing. He stated that, after exiting the airplane he noticed that there was fuel running out of the carburetor. He stated that, tapping on the carburetor stopped the fuel from running out of the carburetor and the engine then ran normally. The owner stated that he contacted a mechanic, who was not an aircraft mechanic, and was told that the problem was from dirt in the carburetor. The owner stated that the mechanic advised running the engine and then shutting off the fuel to purge the dirt from the carburetor.

Inspection of the aircraft revealed 6 to 7 gallons of fuel remaining in the fuselage mounted fuel tank. The fuel screens were found to be clean. The magnetos were tested and produced a spark. The spark plugs were examined and no abnormalities were noted. Further examination of the airplane revealed no other anomalies.

A post accident inspection of the carburetor was performed. No mechanical anomalies were found that could be associated with the reported problem of float sticking. The fuel screen was found to be clean and no sediment was found in the float bowl. However, the carburetor had been previously disassembled prior to this inspection.