N75263Boeing A75L300 · 1942

On June 4, 2010, approximately 1100 central daylight time, a Boeing A75L300, N75263, was substantially damaged when it nosed over following a forced landing at Burger's Valley Airport (58KS), Salina, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The commercial pilot and his pilot certificated passenger were not injured. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Junction City, Kansas.

According to the written statement submitted by the commercial pilot, the engine rpms decreased right after takeoff. The pilot stated that he did not have enough runway remaining to land and bring the airplane to a stop. The airplane subsequently departed the end of the runway, traveled across a gravel road, impacted a ditch and a barbed wire fence, nosed over, and came to rest inverted.

An on scene examination of the airplane, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, revealed that the vertical stabilizer was crushed and a rib in the right wing was damaged. The examination also revealed that the carburetor heat attachment arm was broken. Further examination of the airframe flight controls revealed no anomalies. The engine and propeller governor were removed from the airframe for further examination.

The propeller governor was examined under the auspices of the FAA in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The examination revealed no abnormalities. The bench test of the propeller governor produced results "within range."

An examination of the engine revealed heat damage to the number one, number two, and number nine cylinders. The number one cylinder exhibited excessive heat damage, which according to the FAA and engine mechanic, would have rendered the cylinder inoperative. An examination of the remaining engine systems revealed no anomalies. The heat damage was reported to be a result of the carburetor heat remaining in the "on" position during previous flights.

While performing a touch-and-go, the commercial pilot applied the airplane's throttle to initiate a takeoff. The pilot subsequently lost directional control of the tail-wheel equipped airplane as the airplane veered towards the left side of the runway. The pilot added full engine power and attempted to "power out" of the loss of directional control. However, the airplane contacted vegetation and soft soil resulting in the airplane nosing over and coming to rest in the inverted position. Substantial damage was sustained to the top wing and the rudder. An examination of the airplane and engine by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors found no pre-impact anomalies.