MEYERS LITTLE TOOT

Full Narrative

On October 11, 2012, about 1800 central daylight time, a amateur-built Meyers Little Toot airplane, N848Z, nosed over during a forced landing to a field at the Northwest Regional Airport (52F), Roanoke, Texas. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to a statement provided by the pilot, shortly after takeoff and about 200 feet above ground level, the airplane's engine experience a total loss of engine power. The airplane was about midfield of the 3,500 foot runway so the pilot decided to land on the remaining runway and attempt to stop the airplane. The airplane touched down about 100 mph and the tailwheel touched down as the airplane slowed through 50 mph. The pilot attempted to perform a ground loop before it collided with a frangible fence at the departure end of the runway. The airplane continued through a barbed wire fence where the airplane nosed over. The upper wing forward spar and I Struts, the vertical stabilizer, and rudder were substantially damaged.

Examination of the airframe revealed that maximum fuel flow delivery to the engine was approximately 5 gallons per hour. The engine was removed for further examination and a test run. The examination discovered foreign debris and signatures of electrical shorting on the #3 spark plug, signatures of overheating on the left magneto, and a crack on the coil of the right magneto. Engine timing was different from the manufacturer's specifications. The engine was setup on a test stand and run with a fuel limit of 5 gallons per hour. The engine ran normally at idle. At the takeoff power setting, the engine lost power due to inadequate fuel flow. A subsequent examination of the airframe revealed obstruction of the fuel lines with RTV sealant. The sealant was used on an in-tank fuel gauge as a gasket and the gasket had deteriorated. No other anomalies were discovered with the airframe.