| Crash location | 28.777500°N, 81.237500°W |
| Nearest city | Sanford, FL
28.800548°N, 81.273120°W 2.7 miles away |
| Tail number | N25566 |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 16 Mar 2006 |
| Aircraft type | Cessna 152 |
| Additional details: | None |
On March 16, 2006, about 1325 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N25566, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees following a loss of engine power, about 2 miles southeast of the Orlando Sanford International Airport, Sanford, Florida. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area instructional flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the Delta Connection Academy, Sanford. The certified flight instructor and the student pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The flight instructor reported that he and his student were practicing touch and go landings to runway 9R. During the upwind portion of the landing pattern, about 200 feet agl, the engine lost power. The instructor took control of the airplane, declared an emergency, and began a right turn toward a road. He then saw a clearing and turned toward it, but the left wing collided with a tree during the landing flare. During the landing roll, the nose gear strut collapsed, and the airplane collided with a wooden greenhouse.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Orlando Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), conducted an examination of the airplane and engine on March 22, 2006. He reported that he established continuity of the engine controls. No discrepancies were noted with the engine fuel system, ignition system, or the air induction system. No contamination was found in the fuel system. He removed the carburetor and found debris in the main metering jet. The debris appeared to be small flakes of a white material. The inspector noted that the debris was larger than the fuel inlet screen. The carburetor was retained for further examination.
On April 12, 2006, the carburetor was examined at a maintenance facility. No additional foreign objects or debris were found. A small leak was found at the accelerator valve.
According to the operator, a previously overhauled carburetor was installed on the engine on March 13, 2006, about 9.6 hours before the accident.
The airplane was released to the owner of the airplane on March 23, 2006.
A loss of engine power during takeoff-initial climb due to contamination (debris) lodged in the carburetor jet, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with trees.