# Accident 20000911011229A: Amtr HORNET, Camp Verde, AZ, September 11, 2000 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 11, 2000, 08:30 local time - Place: Camp Verde, AZ - Airport: Montezuma Heights Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 34.4805° N, 111.7792° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4805&lon=-111.7792&mi=10 - Aircraft: N707BD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N707BD-2010-08-19) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Worgull Robert C HORNET (registry code 05606MW, https://openairdocs.org/model/worgull-robert-c-hornet) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMTR HORNET - Reported engine: HIRTH 2706* - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 12,000 total, 164 in this make and model, 65 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX00LA350](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA350) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000911011229A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) SEE ATTACHED PILOT STATEMENT (.4) ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2000, AT 0830 HOURS MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, AN EXPERIMENTAL WORGULL HORNET, N707BD, EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND MADE A FORCED LANDING ON INTERSTATE 17 AFTER TAKEOFF FROM THE MONTEZUMA AIRPORT, CAMP VERDE, ARIZONA. DURING THE ATTEMPTED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AS THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING TO AVOID OBSTACLES. THE AIRPLANE, OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT. A FLIGHT PLAN HAD NOT BEEN FILED. THE FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH A SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR, THE PILOT STATED THAT A SPARK PLUG WAS FOUND DETACHED FROM THE FORWARD CYLINDER. HE REPORTED THAT THE SPARK PLUG THREADS IN THE CYLINDER HEADS ARE MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM AND THE THREADED PORTIONS OF THE SPARK PLUG BARRELS ARE MADE OF STEEL. IN THE PILOT'S WRITTEN STATEMENT TO THE SAFETY BOARD, HE INDICATED THAT NEW SPARK PLUGS HAD BEEN INSTALLED PRIOR TO THE LAST FLIGHT, AND THAT THEY WERE TORQUED TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATION OF 110-INCH POUNDS. HE FURTHER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS DETERIORATION OF THE THREADS INSIDE OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. HE RECOMMENDED A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE SPARK PLUG THREADS AND CYLINDER HEAD THREADS DURING PERIODIC SPARK PLUG REMOVAL. A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AT THE OWNER'S FACILITIES ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2000. HE NOTED THAT THE THREADS ON BOTH CYLINDERS SHOWED EVIDENCE OF WEAR AND APPEARED FLATTENED. ## 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 LAX00LA350](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA350), Sep 11, 2000: Worgull Hornet (N707BD), Camp Verde, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: Separation of the forward spark plug due to wear damage to the cylinder head threads. A factor in the accident was traffic on the highway and the pilot having to maneuver to avoid the traffic. ## Other reports on N707BD (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20100628037219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100628037219A), Jun 28, 2010: Worgull Rob HORNET (N707BD), Camp Verde, AZ, Substantial damage. The aircraft lost power and made an emergency landing in a nearby field. Upon touching down, the nose wheel sheared off and the engine was thrown from the back… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.