# NTSB ATL05LA084: de Havilland DH-82-C, N82CQ, Franklin, GA, May 21, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 21, 2005, 11:49 local (15:49 UTC) - Place: Franklin, GA - Coordinates: 33.421112, -85.161666 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4211&lon=-85.1617&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO-11 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61529 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61529/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05LA084 ## Probable cause The total failure of the left magneto resulting in a partial loss of engine power on initial takeoff climb, forced landing, and in-flight collision with wires and the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - ignition system,magneto - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - object - wire,transmission - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot stated he conducted an engine run up and the airplane experienced a magneto drop. A subsequent check of the magnetos revealed no anomalies. The pilot departed from runway 24 and the airplane was about 50- feet above the ground when the engine experienced a partial loss of engine power and a reduction in engine rpm. The pilot initiated a forced landing and the airplane collided with power lines and the ground. Examination of the engine assembly and fuel system revealed no anomalies. The left and right magnetos were removed. The right magneto was turned by hand and spark was present on all ignition towers. The left magneto would not produce an ignition spark when turned by hand. The left magneto was disassembled. The coil was removed and internal oil from the coil was present on the rotor and housing. ## Factual narrative On May 21, 2005, at 1149 eastern daylight time, a De Havilland DH-82-C, N82CQ, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, reported a partial loss of engine power on initial take off climb from Gum Creek Airport, Roopville, Georgia. The pilot initiated a forced landing, and the airplane collided with trees and wires, before coming to a stop near a private residence. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The private pilot reported no injuries. The passenger reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Gum Creek Airport on May 21, 2005, at 1148. The pilot stated he conducted an engine run up and the airplane experienced a magneto drop. A subsequent check of the magneto revealed no anomalies. The airplane departed from runway 24 and was about 50- feet above the ground when the engine experienced a partial loss of engine power and a reduction in rpm. The pilot observed trees off the departure end of the runway and made a 10-degree right turn to avoid a collision with the trees. The airplane collided with power lines, the nose of the airplane pitched down, and the airplane collided with the ground in a nose down attitude. Examination of the airplane revealed fuel was present in the fuel tank, fuel lines, carburetor, and gascolator. The fuel filter was inspected and free of debris. No anomalies were noted with the engine assembly. The right magneto was removed and turned by hand. Spark was present on all ignition towers. The left magneto was removed and turned by hand. No spark was present. The left magneto was transported to an authorized repair facility for further examination. The left magneto was turned with a bench grinder and intermittent spark was observed at all ignition towers. The magneto was disassembled and no anomalies were noted with the distributor cap, breaker points, internal gears, timing, upper and lower contacts, and the capacitor. The coil was removed and internal oil from the coil had leaked on the rotor and housing. The left magneto was returned to the registered owner on June 3, 2005. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82CQ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82CQ), registered now, S/N 327, built 1939 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: de Havilland DH-82-C - Registry model: [Dehavilland DH 82-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dh-82-c) (registry code 2800125) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 327 - Airframe hours: 1700 - Engines: de Havilland Gipsy Major 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ronald Dick - Registered owner: John Burson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2004, 10 hours before - Departed: 8GA1, Franklin, GA - Destination: 6J4, Saluda, SC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review August 1, 2004; seat: rear; flight hours: 5,042 total, 35 in this make and model, 4,569 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,200 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: CCO, 20 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050521010659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050521010659A), May 21, 2005: Dhav DH82C, Franklin, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 21, 2005, at DH-82, single engine (tiger moth), piloted by [privacy data omitted] made a forced landing in a road 1/4 mile of gum airport,… 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. --- 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.