- Date
- May 7, 2009, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place
- Iowa, LA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N8080KGulfstream-Schweizer A/C Gulfstream
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 13, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090507007939A
- Case key
- 73793
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A partial loss of engine power due to the Number 8 cylinder head cracking and separating from the barrel.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
During initial takeoff from a private airfield, the single-engine agricultural airplane experienced a substantial loss of engine power. The pilot was unable to restore engine power and performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing roll-out the airplane collided with a levy, nosed over, and caught fire. The pilot was able to egress the airplane uninjured before the airplane was consumed by the postimpact fire. The airplane had been fully fueled and loaded with applicant. An inspection of the engine revealed that the Number 8 cylinder assembly cracked through the spark plug holes, resulting in the cylinder head separating from the barrel in flight.
Factual narrative
During initial takeoff from a private airfield, the single-engine agricultural airplane experienced a substantial loss of engine power. The pilot was unable to restore engine power and performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing roll-out the airplane collided with a levy, nosed over, and caught fire. The pilot was able to egress the airplane uninjured before the airplane was consumed by the post-impact fire. The airplane had been fully fueled and loaded with applicant. An inspection of the engine revealed that the #8 cylinder assembly cracked through the spark plug holes resulting in the cylinder head separating from the barrel in-flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8080K
- Reported as
- Gulfstream-Schweizer A/C Gulfstream (G-164B)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 554 B
- Airframe hours
- 13,410
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN1, 550 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- O Brien Flying Service Inc
- Registered owner
- O Brien Flying Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 1, 2009 · 72 hours before
- Departed
- LA71 · Iowa, LA
- Destination
- LA71 · Iowa, LA
- Airport
- LA71 · O'Brien Flying Service Airport, runway 21, 3,800 × 100 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 1, 2007
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 1,000 total · 250 in this make and model · 800 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,200 ft broken
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Observed at
- CWF, 7 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 18, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 594 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.