LOS ANGELES – A problem with a carburetor part led to engine failure and the crash of a vintage airplane piloted by actor Harrison Ford in California earlier this year, federal investigators said Thursday.
The part known as a main metering jet likely came loose over the years since the World War II-era craft was restored, the National Transportation Safety Board said. The problem allowed too much fuel to flow, resulting in a loss of engine power.
Ford had just taken off from Santa Monica Airport on March 5 when he reported engine failure at an altitude of 1,100 feet and requested an immediate return.
READ MORE: Actor Harrison Ford injured in crash landing near L.A.
In an interview with the lead NTSB investigator, Ford “stated that he did not attempt an engine restart but maintained an airspeed of 85 mph and initiated a left turn back toward the airport; however, during the approach, he realized that the airplane was unable to reach the runway. The pilot did not recall anything further about the accident sequence.”
The single-engine Ryan Aeronautical ST-3KR struck a tree and crashed on a golf course about 800 feet from the runway, injuring the actor who was 72 at the time and turned 73 last month. No one on the ground was hurt.
The NTSB found that an improperly installed shoulder harness likely contributed to the severity of Ford’s injuries, which were never detailed.
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