CHI90DER01

1990-07-12 · NEW RICHMOND, Wisconsin, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport RNH

Aircraft involved

N5330F Piper PA-28-140 None

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, WHICH RESULTED IN THE GASCOLATOR DRAIN BEING LEFT OPEN.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE LOST POWER JUST AFTER LIFT-OFF, RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING. THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED A LARGE ROUND BALE OF HAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING WHEN THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP. THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY DURING A POST-ACCIDENT ENGINE RUN. THE FAA INSPECTOR STATED HIS INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE GASCOLATOR DRAIN VALVE WAS STUCK OPEN SLIGHTLY 'ALLOWING THE FUEL PUMP TO SUCK AIR ALONG WITH GAS.' Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1990_CHI90DER01.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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