Summary
On April 26, 2013, a Engineering & Research 415-C (N94305) was involved in an accident near Little Falls, MN. The accident resulted in 2 minor injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The failure of the airplane's throttle cable.
The pilot reported that he was performing take-offs and landings when the accident occurred. On one of the landings, when the airplane was on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the engine went to idle. The pilot attempted to land the airplane on the runway but struck a fence short of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the outer flexible sheath of the throttle cable had come loose from the crimped metal sleeve which was part of the instrument panel fitting. Movement of the cockpit throttle control would not actuate the throttle arm of the carburetor. Records indicated that the airplane was manufactured in 1946 and the throttle cable appeared to be original. No entry indicating replacement of the cable was found in the airplane's maintenance records.
This accident is documented in NTSB report CEN13CA262. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N94305.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The failure of the airplane's throttle cable.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was performing take-offs and landings when the accident occurred. On one of the landings, when the airplane was on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the engine went to idle. The pilot attempted to land the airplane on the runway but struck a fence short of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the outer flexible sheath of the throttle cable had come loose from the crimped metal sleeve which was part of the instrument panel fitting. Movement of the cockpit throttle control would not actuate the throttle arm of the carburetor. Records indicated that the airplane was manufactured in 1946 and the throttle cable appeared to be original. No entry indicating replacement of the cable was found in the airplane's maintenance records.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN13CA262