Temco GC-1B N106S accident near Dayton, Tennessee

Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power during low-altitude maneuvers for reasons that could not be determined because the engine examination did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation; however the carburetor was not recovered.

NTSB analysis

The pilot had recently finished repairing the airplane after an accident 1 year earlier, and the day of the accident was the first time the airplane had been flown since completion of the repairs. The pilot fueled the airplane, completed several local flights uneventfully, including about 8 takeoffs and landings during about 2 hours of flight, and refueled the airplane.

The pilot stated that he had been maneuvering at low altitudes in the local area for about 15 minutes, and the airplane was climbing through 500 feet above ground level over a river when the engine developed a slight roughness and lost power, decreasing from 2,300 rpm to 800 rpm. The pilot performed emergency procedures, including the application of carburetor heat, but the engine did not regain power. The pilot subsequently made a forced landing in the river.

The wreckage was recovered after 3 days underwater. Examination did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot believed that flying at low altitude and pulling “2 or 3 g's” might have affected the carburetor; however, the carburetor had separated and was not recovered.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA12LA318 for the full record.