20020704017669A

Accident · No damage

FAA accident report · Amtr VP-2 · Collinscenter, NY · July 4, 2002

Date: July 4, 2002 · 08:00 local
Place: Collinscenter, NY
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N21267
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC02LA130
Reported as: Amtr VP2
Fatal injuries: 0

N21267Registration cancelled Mar 1, 2018 · Wheeler Gilbert VP-2S/N 1234 · Built 1990 Airframe modelWheeler Gilbert VP-2 Engine modelVolkswagen CONVERSIONReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Investigation of wheeler gilbert aircraft, manufactured in 1990, serial no. 1234, found the aircraft's electrical lead from the coil to the distributor was not properly installed into the distributor cap side of the electrical system. The lead into the coil was clean, bright, and a shiny gold copper color. The lead from the coil going into the distributor was burnt with a red oxidized color. The distributor cap mating surface for this lead was the same color and look. This indicates that there was no contact between the two surfaces and the spark had to jump this space to allow operation of this engine. The pilot/owner stated that this was a very hard engine to start; sometimes taking up to 200 hand props before it would kick and run. The aircraft did have fuel available for operation and the fuel was checked for and found in all locations.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) INVESTIGATION OF WHEELER GILBERT AIRCRAFT, MANUFACTURED IN 1990, SERIAL NO. 1234, FOUND THE AIRCRAFT'S ELECTRICAL LEAD FROM THE COIL TO THE DISTRIBUTOR WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED INTO THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP SIDE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE LEAD INTO THE COIL WAS CLEAN, BRIGHT, AND A SHINY GOLD COPPER COLOR. THE LEAD FROM THE COIL GOING INTO THE DISTRIBUTOR WAS BURNT WITH A RED OXIDIZED COLOR. THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP MATING SURFACE FOR THIS LEAD WAS THE SAME COLOR AND LOOK. THIS INDICATES THAT THERE WAS NO CONTACT BETWEEN THE TWO SURFACES AND THE SPARK HAD TO JUMP THIS SPACE TO ALLOW OPERATION OF THIS ENGINE. THE PILOT/OWNER STATED THAT THIS WAS A VERY HARD ENGINE TO START; SOMETIMES TAKING UP TO 200 HAND PROPS BEFORE IT WOULD KICK AND RUN. THE AIRCRAFT DID HAVE FUEL AVAILABLE FOR OPERATION AND THE FUEL WAS CHECKED FOR AND FOUND IN ALL LOCATIONS.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC02LA130Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCollins, NYThe separation of an ignition lead to the distributor cap, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. Factors in the accident were trees and power lines.Jul 4, 2002 · Substantial damage