Summary
On October 19, 2005, a Weber Glastar (N722W) was involved in an incident near Summersville, WV. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: A loss of engine power due to a stuck carburetor float needle.
The experimental homebuilt airplane was in cruise flight at 7,500 feet when the engine lost power. The pilot navigated toward the nearest airport by GPS, which was 16 miles away. The pilot found he could restore partial power by continuously pumping the primer handle. Upon reaching the airport, the engine stopped producing power when the pilot reached for the flap handle. The airplane was "high and fast" and touched down at the midpoint of the 3,000-foot runway, then overran the departure end. Examination of the engine, ignition and the fuel system revealed no mechanical deficiencies. Disassembly of the carburetor by an FAA inspector revealed a stuck float needle in its seat, that was freed during disassembly. No other discrepancies with the carburetor were found.
This incident is documented in NTSB report NYC06CA012. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N722W.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
a loss of engine power due to a stuck carburetor float needle.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The experimental homebuilt airplane was in cruise flight at 7,500 feet when the engine lost power. The pilot navigated toward the nearest airport by GPS, which was 16 miles away. The pilot found he could restore partial power by continuously pumping the primer handle. Upon reaching the airport, the engine stopped producing power when the pilot reached for the flap handle. The airplane was "high and fast" and touched down at the midpoint of the 3,000-foot runway, then overran the departure end. Examination of the engine, ignition and the fuel system revealed no mechanical deficiencies. Disassembly of the carburetor by an FAA inspector revealed a stuck float needle in its seat, that was freed during disassembly. No other discrepancies with the carburetor were found.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC06CA012