Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On July 2, 1996, at 1505 mountain daylight time a Cessna 182RG, N4314R, exited the side of the runway and nosed over following a balked touch-and-go landing at Jefferson County Airport, Broomfield, Colorado. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured and one passenger received minor injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred and a VFR flight plan was on file. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this business flight which departed Steamboat Springs, Colorado, at 1400.

The flight was public use. All the aircraft occupants were on duty FAA employees and had rented the aircraft to fly to Steamboat Springs to install a remote communications outlet.

According to the pilot, he canceled his flight plan and entered a right downwind pattern intending to do a touch-and-go landing on runway 29R. He said the pattern and approach were normal until the flare when the tail of the aircraft kicked right and up turning the nose left and down. The aircraft was pointing 40 degrees left of the centerline for 29R. The pilot stated that he added slight power and control inputs to bring the aircraft to runway heading but the aircraft was drifting left. He then added full power, which according to his statement, had no effect. He said the engine was running rough and "surgey." According to his statement, the aircraft continued across the infield area between runways 29R and 29L a few feet off the ground for a distance of approximately 6,000 feet when one of the wheels hit the top of a slight rise. The aircraft flipped over and came to rest inverted. The pilot said he checked with the passengers for their condition and they all exited the aircraft unaided. After exiting the aircraft, the pilot said he checked the windsock which was indicating a wind of 8 to 10 knots out of the east and the runway use had been switched to runway 11. (See attached pilot statement.)

The engine, a Lycoming O-540-L3C5D, S/N L20487-40A, was inspected and test run at the facilities of Beegles Aircraft Services on July 17, 1996, Present for the event were the IIC, two A & P mechanics from Beegles, two representatives from Allied Signal (turbo charger), a representative from Lycoming-reciprocating engine division, a representative from Cessna Aircraft, the pilot, and an FAA airworthiness inspector.

The engine remained attached to the airframe and the left wing was attached to supply a normal source for fuel. The propeller was replaced with a serviceable constant speed unit. The top motor mount rubbers were in poor condition and it could not be determined if this condition was pre-existing.

Repairs to the engine in preparation for the test run consisted of removing and repairing an exhaust pipe which had been crushed during impact and putting an aluminum sleeve around the number 1 exhaust stack to repair an impact related split.

All spark plugs were removed and inspec