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20091017050339A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Palen AVRO-504K · Rhinebeck, NY · October 17, 2009

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

© OpenStreetMap
Date
October 17, 2009 · 15:30 local
Place
Rhinebeck, NY
Airport
Old Rhinebeck Aeroodrome
Phase of flight
Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator
NONE
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N4929
NTSB investigation
NTSBERA10LA021
Reported as
Palen AVRO-504K
Reported engine
Lerhone TYPE J
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
4,200 total20 in this make and model200 in the last 90 days
N4929Registered now · Palen AVRO-504KS/N HAC1 · Built 1966Airframe modelPalen AVRO-504KEngine modelLerhone TYPE CReciprocating

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.

Per the pilots statement, " on October 17, 2009 at 15:05, after running up the engine of the avro 504 k replica to 1250 rpms, I took off to the north and at approximately 200 feet I heard a thump in the engine. As I did not have sufficient runway in front of me, I turned to the right away from the primary spectator line. I tried in vain to climb for altitude as my airspeed and rpms were decreasing. I put the aircraft into a shallow 180 degree turn trying to maintain altitude at minimin airspeed. I had neither the altitude nor the airspeed to turn left and try to land downwind mid-field. This was because of insufficient runway coupled with the risk of a stall/ spin close to the primary spectator line. I chose to continue the turn and try to land further to the north. As I turned base for runway 18, the engine lost power and I had to set it down in the trees. I estimate I was going about 35 to 40 mph when I set it down in the tree tops. I have about 20 hours in this aircraft and I know the engine well. I believe something broke internally on take off."

As the FAA filed it

PER THE PILOTS STATEMENT, " ON OCTOBER 17, 2009 AT 15:05, AFTER RUNNING UP THE ENGINE OF THE AVRO 504 K REPLICA TO 1250 RPMS, I TOOK OFF TO THE NORTH AND AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET I HEARD A THUMP IN THE ENGINE. AS I DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT RUNWAY IN FRONT OF ME, I TURNED TO THE RIGHT AWAY FROM THE PRIMARY SPECTATOR LINE. I TRIED IN VAIN TO CLIMB FOR ALTITUDE AS MY AIRSPEED AND RPMS WERE DECREASING. I PUT THE AIRCRAFT INTO A SHALLOW 180 DEGREE TURN TRYING TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AT MINIMIN AIRSPEED. I HAD NEITHER THE ALTITUDE NOR THE AIRSPEED TO TURN LEFT AND TRY TO LAND DOWNWIND MID-FIELD. THIS WAS BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY COUPLED WITH THE RISK OF A STALL/ SPIN CLOSE TO THE PRIMARY SPECTATOR LINE. I CHOSE TO CONTINUE THE TURN AND TRY TO LAND FURTHER TO THE NORTH. AS I TURNED BASE FOR RUNWAY 18, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND I HAD TO SET IT DOWN IN THE TREES. I ESTIMATE I WAS GOING ABOUT 35 TO 40 MPH WHEN I SET IT DOWN IN THE TREE TOPS. I HAVE ABOUT 20 HOURS IN THIS AIRCRAFT AND I KNOW THE ENGINE WELL. I BELIEVE SOMETHING BROKE INTERNALLY ON TAKE OFF."

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 ERA10LA021Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRhinebeck, NYA loss of engine power due to the in-flight separation of the number 3 cylinder valve rocker arm attachment hardware. Contributing to the accident was the improper maintenance inspection of the engine.Oct 17, 2009 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N4929 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 20030604030289AClimb · Rhinebeck, NY(-23) Engine began losing power after take off and failed during climb. Pilot attempted to maneuver back to the runway, but could not make the runway due to the low altitude of the aircraft at the time of the engine failure. Pilot made a forced landing in a…Jun 4, 2003 · Substantial damage