NTSB Factual Report

On July 17, 2002, about 1100 eastern daylight time, an experimental Yakovlev Yak 52, N2183F, registered to a private individual, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed following a loss of engine power in the vicinity of Parrish, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane and a farm vehicle received substantial damage, and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. The flight departed the Wauchula Municipal Airport, Wauchula, Florida, about 1050.

According to the pilot, after taking on fuel at the Wauchula Airport, about 10 minutes into his return flight to his home base, the engine back fired a couple of times and stopped running altogether. During the emergency landing onto the only field available, the aircraft's right wing collided with a farm tractor, causing a minor fire and spinning the aircraft clockwise, causing separation of the nose landing gear and both laminated wooden propeller blades.

According to an FAA inspector, on September 13, 2002, he inspected the airframe and engine for the cause of the in-flight stoppage. The engine itself, sustained little impact damage. There was adequate fuel aboard, precrash, and it appeared uncontaminated. He found the carburetor body broken at the point where the main fuel line attaches. The damage appeared to have occurred precrash, as there were fuel stains present. The evidence led the inspector to conclude, "That the carburetor housing was previously cracked and possibly resulted in the engine failure."

NTSB Probable Cause

The in-flight failure of a carburetor/fuel line fitting, resulting in loss of engine power, a forced landing to unsuitable terrain, and a ground collision with a farm vehicle during the emergency landing.