Feds cite carburetor problem in Harrison Ford plane crash

Harrison Ford’s plane crash was caused by engine failure related to a loose part… the National Transportation Safety Board announced Thursday.

The 73-year-old actor of Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark fame was injured in the crash but has since recovered.

Ford had just taken off from Santa Monica Airport on March 5 when he reported engine failure and requested an immediate return. “He stated that he did not attempt an engine restart but maintained an airspeed of 85 miles per hour 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 report said.

“The unseated jet would have allowed an increased fuel flow through the main metering orifice, producing an extremely rich fuel-to-air ratio, which would have resulted in the loss of engine power”, according to the NTSB.

“The lack of reinforcement allowed the attachment bolt, washers and stop nut to be pulled upward and through the seatback structure during the impact sequence, which resulted in the pilot’s loss of shoulder harness restraint”, according to the report.

The report also says Ford’s shoulder harness was not properly reinforced, which contributed to the severity of his injuries. “Subsequently, the plane struck the top of a tree that was about 65 feet (20 meters) tall and then impacted the ground in an open area of the golf course”.

Ford was conscious and able to talk to medical personnel who transported him to hospital.

According to TMZ, the report states the carburetor’s main metering jet became loose, which likely stemmed from when the plane was rebuilt 17 years earlier.

The two-seat plane, which was called the PT-22 Recruit when it was used as a US army training aircraft, was intentionally designed to mimic the flight characteristics of larger war planes.