N3LV

On August 17, 1996, at 1628 mountain standard time, a homebuilt experimental Atkinson Varieze airplane, N3LV, collided with the ground in a vacant field near the Glendale, Arizona, airport while attempting a forced landing. The forced landing was precipitated by a complete loss of engine power during cruise. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local area personal flight. The aircraft incurred substantial damage and the certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at the Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, on the day of the accident at 1600.

The pilot reported that after departure he headed toward a nearby USAF base to make a low approach to their runway. After receiving a clearance to enter the base airspace the pilot turned toward the airbase and applied full throttle. Shortly after that, the engine suddenly quit, restarted briefly, then quit altogether. The pilot said he set up for a forced landing in a vacant field and was just able to make the field but the aircraft landed hard. The landing gear broke and separated from the aircraft, then it cartwheeled.

The engine and airframe were inspected by an FAA airworthiness inspector from the Scottsdale, Arizona, Flight Standards District Office. The inspector reported that he found the mixture cable housing broken where it entered the securing bracket to the carburetor. The cable would pull the mixture lever to the idle cutoff position but would not push the lever toward the rich position. The inspector further reported that the cable, which appeared to be a bicycle or motorcycle part, was too short for the application.