# NTSB CEN10CA330: Taylorcraft DCO-65, N61720, Akron, OH, June 20, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 20, 2010, 08:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Akron, OH - Coordinates: 40.915832, -81.441947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9158&lon=-81.4419&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Cleveland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76375 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA330 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76375/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76375 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA330 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft DCO-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=8850408), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Taylorcraft DCO-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=8850408), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Taylorcraft DCO-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=8850408), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Taylorcraft DCO-65, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=8850408), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Taylorcraft DCO-65, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8850408), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Taylorcraft DCO-65, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8850408), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane was operating normally during the engine checks prior to takeoff. About 10 minutes after takeoff, he was climbing to 2,500 feet above mean sea level when he noticed that the airplane was not gaining altitude and that the rpms were dropping. He checked the throttle position at full forward and he pulled the carburetor heat on. He then noticed that the oil pressure gauge was reading zero. The airplane continued to lose altitude, with the propeller windmilling and the rpm gauge reading about 1,000 rpm. He executed a forced landing to a wooded area since there were residential homes in the area and no open fields available. Postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed no engine oil leaks and its oil level was at capacity. There was 2.5 gallons of fuel in the right wing tank and 1.3 gallons in the left fuel tank. The system capacity is 12 gallons total with 12 gallons of usable fuel. No water or contaminants were present. With the wings removed, the engine was started and 30+ psi of oil pressure was indicated on the oil pressure gauge within five seconds at idle power. The inspection revealed no deficiencies that would have precluded normal engine operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the airplane was operating normally during the engine checks prior to takeoff. About 10 minutes after takeoff, he was climbing to 2,500 feet above mean sea level when he noticed that he wasn’t gaining any altitude and the RPM’s were dropping. He checked the throttle position at full forward and he pulled the carburetor heat on. Then he noticed that the oil pressure gauge was reading zero. The airplane continued to lose altitude with the propeller wind milling and the RPM gauge reading about 1,000 RPM. He executed a forced landing to a wooded area since there were residential homes in the area and no open fields available. The inspection of the airplane revealed no engine oil leaks and its oil level was at capacity. There was 2.5 gallons of fuel in the right wing tank and 1.3 gallons in the left fuel tank. The system capacity is 12 gallons total with 12 gallons of usable fuel. No water or contaminants were present. With the wings removed, the engine was started and 30+ psi of oil pressure was indicated on the oil pressure gauge within five seconds at idle power. The inspection revealed no deficiencies that would have precluded normal engine operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61720](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61720), registered now, S/N L5638, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TAYLORCRAFT DCO-65 - Registry model: [Taylorcraft DCO-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-dco-65) (registry code 8850408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: L5638 - Airframe hours: 2370 - Engines: Continental A65 Series 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wayne Noall - Registered owner: Lindsay Plumbing & Heating Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 2009 - Departed: CAK, Akron, OH - Destination: 27D, Beach City, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 2,562 total, 12 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: CAK ## 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 20100620035239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100620035239A), Jun 20, 2010: Taylorcraft DCO-65, Canton, OH, Substantial damage. About 5 miles south of cak enroute to beach city airport at 2300' MSL the airman notice the aircraft 'slowing down and not climbing' after checking the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 23, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76375. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333504&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Interviews (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333331&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interviews-Master.PDF 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.