# Accident 20100821046729A: Piper J3C-65, Williamstown, NJ, August 21, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 21, 2010, 11:00 local time
- Place: Williamstown, NJ
- Airport: Southern Cross
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.6556° N, 75.0144° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6556&lon=-75.0144&mi=10
- Aircraft: N209RC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N209RC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-65
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A-65
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,000 total, 50 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA10LA437](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA437) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100821046729A

## Narrative

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

PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKE OFF FROM SOUTHERN CROSS AIRPORT. HE STATED THE ENGINE LOST POWER IN THE CLIMB. THE PROP HIT A TREE AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A CAR THAT WAS PARKED AT A HOUSE AT THE END OF THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. INSPECTION OF THE SPARK PLUGS USING A CHAMPION PNEUMATIC SPARK TESTER SET AT THE PRESCRIBED 80 P.S.I. SHOWED THE PLUGS THAT WERE INSTALLED IN #1 CYLINDER EXHIBITED MINIMAL SPARKS WHICH WAS YELLOW IN COLOR AND VERY WEAK.  ALL OF THE LOWER CYLINDER PLUGS WERE FOUND TO BE OIL SOAKED AND TESTED BELOW THE NORMAL RANGE.THIS AIRCRAFT ENGINE WAS ASSEMBLED WITH OVERHAULED CYLINDERS IN 2006.  AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE ENGINE ONLY HAD AN ADDITIONAL SIX HOURS AND FOUR TENTHS TIME SINCE CYLINDER INSTALLATION.  IT APPEARS THAT THE RINGS WERE NOT SEATED IN THE CYLINDERS DUE TO LOW AIRCRAFT USAGE/INFREQUENT FLIGHTS.

## 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 ERA10LA437](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA437), Aug 21, 2010: Piper J3C-65 (N209RC), Williamstown, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial loss of engine power during takeoff due to weak spark plugs on the No. 1 cylinder.

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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