# NTSB ATL98LA062: Stewart 51 S-51D, N51S, Vero Beach, FL, April 18, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 18, 1998, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Vero Beach, FL - Coordinates: 27.639925, -80.390457 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6399&lon=-80.3905&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3982 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL98LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3982/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA062 ## Probable cause The maintenance personnel failure to remove a plastic plug from the oil tank breather that resulted in the rupture of the engine oil tank. Factors were, a tailwind during the emergency landing, and a ditch on the departure end of the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - lubricating system,oil tank - ruptured (cause) - fluid,oil - exhaustion (cause) - miscellaneous,engine - obstructed (cause) - maintenance - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - Forced landing, climb - to cruise - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) ## Analysis The flight was on climb out when the pilot experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot radioed the air traffic control tower and reported the engine problem. The pilot was cleared for a downwind emergency landing on runway 29R. The airplane landed on the first 1/3 of the runway, and rolled off the departure end of the 3500 foot long paved surface, and collided with a ditch. The examination of the engine assembly disclosed that the engine oil tank was ruptured; there was no oil recovered from the engine lubrication system. The examination of the oil tank assembly disclosed that a plastic plug blocked the oil tank breather line. According to the operator of the airplane, the oil tank had been removed, and was painted several days prior to the accident. During the painting operation, all holes, in the tank, including the oil tank breather line, were covered with plastic plugs. ## Factual narrative On April 18, 1998, at 0930 eastern daylight time, a Stewart 51 Inc., S-51D, N51S, collided with the ditch on the departure end of the runway , according to the pilot, during an attempted forced landing on runway 29R at the Vero Beach Municipal Airport in Vero Beach, Florida. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR part 91 with no flight plan filed. Recovered weather data disclosed that visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. According to an official of Stewart 51 Inc., the operator, the airplane sustained substantial airframe damage. The commercial rated pilot, and his passenger were not injured. The flight departed Vero Beach, Florida, at 0925. According to the operator, the flight was on climb out when the pilot experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot radioed the air traffic control tower and reported the engine problem. The pilot was cleared for a downwind emergency landing on runway 29R. Reportedly, the winds were 130 degrees at 14 knots. The airplane landed on the first 1/3 of the runway, and rolled off the departure end of the 3500 foot long paved surface on to the rough and uneven grassy surface. According to the operator, the engine never quit running throughout the emergency, but there was a reduction in engine power. The pilot also reported that the propeller blade pitch went to an uncommanded high pitch position. The uncommanded high pitch is normally associated with the loss of oil pressure in the propeller hub. The examination of the engine assembly disclosed that the engine oil tank was ruptured, and there was no oil recovered from the engine lubrication system. The examination of the oil tank assembly disclosed that a plastic plug blocked the oil tank breather line. According to the operator of the airplane, the oil tank had been removed, and was painted several days prior to the accident. During the painting operation, all holes in the tank, including the oil tank breather line, were covered with plastic plugs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51S-2013-08-21), registration cancelled 2013-08-21, S/N 013, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STEWART 51 INC. S-51D - Registry model: [Stewart 51 Inc/Stewart J D STEWART S-51D](https://openairdocs.org/model/stewart-51-inc-stewart-j-d-stewart-s-51d) (registry code 05625AW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 013 - Airframe hours: 436 - Engines: Chevrolet GIVL-502 500 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stewart 51 Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 1998, 2 hours before - Airport: VRB, Vero Beach Municipal, runway 29R, 3,504 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 2,413 total, 386 in this make and model, 2,302 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 14 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: VRB, 360 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 19980418007199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980418007199A), Apr 18, 1998: Amtr S51D, Vero Beach, FL, Substantial damage. On April 18, 1998, at 0930 eastern daylight time, a stewart 51 inc., S-51D, N51S, collided with the ditch on the departure end of the runway, according to the… 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.