Bum carburetor forced Ford down
Harrison Ford’s vintage plane likely crashed because of a carburetor problem that caused the engine to lose power after taking off from Santa Monica Airport, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report released Thursday.
The carburetor was last checked in 1998, when the plane underwent extensive restoration and an engine overhaul. But carburetor manuals didn’t offer “pertinent instructions regarding installations or continued maintenance of the jet assemblies,” the report stated.
Ford told federal investigators his plane lost power March 5 after taking off from the airport and crashed as he was trying to get back to the facility. The actor was seriously hurt when the plane came down in a golf course, but no one on the ground was injured.
Ford told investigators he did not remember the actual crash but relayed what happened moments before.
The small yellow-and-silver monoplane was built in 1942 and is registered to MG Aviation Inc. in Delaware. That type of aircraft served as a primary trainer for the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.
Dr. Dre royalties going to Compton
Dr. Dre said he will donate royalties from his new album to the city of Compton, California, for a new performing arts facility.
In an interview with Zane Lowe on Beats 1 Radio, Dre said he spoke to Compton Mayor Aja Brown about ways to give back to the city with the release of his first album in 16 years.
The rapper said Thursday he “decided to donate all of my artist royalties from the sale of this album to help fund a new performing arts and entertainment facility for the kids in Compton.”
“Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre,” inspired by the N.W.A. biopic “Straight Outta Compton,” which opens Aug. 14, will be released today.
Cosby deposition ordered in case
Bill Cosby is expected to give sworn testimony in October in a lawsuit filed by a woman accusing the comedian of sexually abusing her when she was 15 years old.
The Oct. 9 date for his deposition was noted in a ruling Wednesday that requires Cosby to testify before his attorneys take the statement of his accuser, Judy Huth.
Huth claims Cosby abused her after taking her to the Playboy Mansion around 1974. Cosby’s lawyers have called Huth’s lawsuit an extortion attempt and say she tried to sell the allegations to a tabloid years ago.
The birthday bunch
Former MLB pitcher Don Larsen is 86. Humorist Garrison Keillor is 73. Singer B.J. Thomas is 73. Country singer Rodney Crowell is 65. Actor David Duchovny is 55. Actress Charlize Theron is 40.