Primary finding
Probable cause
An inadvertent stall when the pilot lowered the landing gear. A factor was a leaking o-ring in the propeller governor.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The airplane took off and climbed to an altitude of 150 feet. As the pilot retracted the landing gear he noticed a light colored smoke coming from the engine cowling and the engine began losing power. The pilot turned the airplane back towards the airport and aligned it with the runway. When the pilot lowered the landing gear the left wing dropped and the pilot could not recover. The airplane struck power lines and impacted the ground out of control. Post-accident investigation disclosed a deteriorated and leaking o-ring in the propeller governor. There was no evidence of fire in the engine compartment.
Source record
Factual narrative
On September 17, 1993, at approximately 1015 mountain daylight time, N44680, a Culver V, struck power lines and impacted terrain during a landing approach to Seven Rivers Airport, Carlsbad, New Mexico. The airplane was destroyed, and the private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. According to the pilot, he took off on runway 10 and climbed to 150 feet AGL (above ground level). He raised the landing gear, then noted light colored smoke coming from the right side of the engine cowling and the engine began losing power. The pilot turned back towards the airport and aligned the airplane with runway 22, losing about 50 feet in the process. The pilot saw high power lines ahead. He reported that he lowered the landing gear and the left wing dropped and he "could not recover." When the left wing contacted the power lines control was lost and the airplane impacted the ground. Post-accident investigation disclosed a deteriorated O-ring in the propeller governor was leaking. There was no evidence of fire within the engine compartment. -