# Accident 19951228042689A: Stolam RC3, Trenton, TX, December 28, 1995

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 28, 1995, 16:00 local time
- Place: Trenton, TX
- Airport: Tri-County Aerodrome Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.5094° N, 96.3905° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5094&lon=-96.3905&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6127K, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6127K-2015-05-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Republic RC-3 (registry code 3080202, https://openairdocs.org/model/republic-rc-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Franklin 6A8 series (registry code 27030, https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a8-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STOLAM RC3
- Reported engine: FRNKLN 6A8215B8F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW96LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA081) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951228042689A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

LOST POWER ON CLIMBOUT. HIT SIGN LANDING ON ROAD. TORE OFF WING. SPARK PLUGS FINGER TIGHT OR MISSING. NOT TIGHTENED (-23) ON DECEMBER 28, 1996, AT 1600 CST, A REPUBLIC SEABEE RC-3, N6127K, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHILE PERFORMING A FORCED LANDING NEAR WHITEWRIGHT, TEXAS. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM TRI-COUNTY AIRPORT LOCATED NEAR WHITEWRIGHT, TEXAS, AT APPROXIMATELY 1550. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE FERRY FLIGHT AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT HAD PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE NEAR ATLANTA, GEORGIA, AND WAS FERRYING IT TO CHANDLER, AZ. THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD HAD A MECHANIC PERFORM A PRE-BUY INSPECTION BEFORE PURCHASING THE AIRPLANE WHICH INCLUDED REMOVAL AND INSPECTION OF THE SPARK PLUGS. HE STOPPED AT TRI-COUNTY AIRPORT FOR FUEL AND OIL. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE "STOPPED AND THEN STARTED UP AGAIN." SOON AFTER, THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER AGAIN. DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD, THE AIRPLANE HIT ROAD SIGNS AND ONE WING SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT ONE SPARK PLUG ON EACH OF NUMBER 1, 4, 5, AND 6 CYLINDERS WAS "FINGER" TIGHT. THE SECOND SPARK PLUG                                  ON THE NUMBER 6 CYLINDER HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE CYLINDER. THE INSPECTION ALSO REVEALED THE ENGINE WAS COVERED IN OIL.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW96LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA081), Dec 28, 1995: Republic RC 3 (N6127K), Whitewright, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separation of a spark plug and 4 other spark plugs being 'finger' tight as a result of undertorquing by maintenance personnel when they were reinstalled following inspection. A factor was a lack…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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