N1627KLUSCOMBE 8A2017-06-03 NTSB Accident Report

Substantial
Minor

LUSCOMBE 8AS/N: 4354

Summary

On June 03, 2017, a Luscombe 8A (N1627K) was involved in an accident near Rexberg, ID. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information which resulted in a landing short of the runway.

On June 3, 2017, about 1030 mountain daylight time, a Luscombe 8E airplane, N1627K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rexburg, Idaho. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he departed with 9 gallons of fuel in the right-wing tank and 8 gallons in the left- wing tank. After flying for about an hour, he returned to Rexburg-Madison County Airport (RXE), Rexburg, Idaho, and entered the traffic pattern for runway 17. While on final approach, the pilot "felt a little low" and applied throttle with no response from the engine. He actuated the fuel primer twice; however, there was no increase in engine power.

This accident is documented in NTSB report WPR17LA122. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N1627K.

Accident Details

Date
Saturday, June 3, 2017
NTSB Number
WPR17LA122
Location
Rexberg, ID
Event ID
20170604X43302
Coordinates
43.840278, -111.804168
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information which resulted in a landing short of the runway.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
LUSCOMBE
Serial Number
4354
Engine Type
None
Year Built
1946
Model / ICAO
8AL8
No. of Engines
0

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
MELENDEZ ROBERT
Address
PO BOX 457
Status
Deregistered
City
RIRIE
State / Zip Code
ID 83443-0457
Country
United States

Analysis

On June 3, 2017, about 1030 mountain daylight time, a Luscombe 8E airplane, N1627K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rexburg, Idaho. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot reported that he departed with 9 gallons of fuel in the right-wing tank and 8 gallons in the left- wing tank. After flying for about an hour, he returned to Rexburg-Madison County Airport (RXE), Rexburg, Idaho, and entered the traffic pattern for runway 17. While on final approach, the pilot "felt a little low" and applied throttle with no response from the engine. He actuated the fuel primer twice; however, there was no increase in engine power. The pilot landed short of the runway and the airplane collided with bushes and a fence before coming to rest in the South Teton River.

The airplane was removed from the river by a local landowner. Shortly after the recovery, the airplane was flipped over by wind gusts. The wreckage remained inverted for 5 days before a post-accident examination, which revealed substantial damage to the aft fuselage and wings. No fuel was detected in the wing tanks and gascolator. No other preimpact anomalies were noted during the examination.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR17LA122