# NTSB CEN12LA543: Cross David L Glasair III, N71AJ, Westcliffe, CO, August 7, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 2012, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Westcliffe, CO - Coordinates: 38.129795, -105.460655 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1298&lon=-105.4607&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 84676 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA543 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84676/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84676 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA543 ## Probable cause The loss of oil pressure due to the failure of an oil filter gasket, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cross David L GLASAIR III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=05605DY), [All aircraft, 130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/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: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Cross David L GLASAIR III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=05605DY), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cross David L GLASAIR III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05605DY), [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: [Cross David L GLASAIR III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05605DY), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis After leveling off at 12,000 feet mean sea level for a test flight, the pilot noticed that the oil temperature began to increase, and then the engine lost oil pressure. The engine then lost total power, and the pilot performed a forced landing in a field. An examination of the engine revealed that a gasket between the remote oil filter adapter and the "spin-on" filter mounting pad had failed, which resulted in a loss of oil. The owner reported that he had lubricated the gasket with a compound upon installation. It could not be determined whether the compound had degraded the gasket. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 2012, about 0830 mountain daylight time a kit-built Glasair III airplane, N71AJ, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Westcliffe, Colorado. The private pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local test flight originated from the Silver West Airport (C08), Westcliffe, Colorado, about 0810. According to the owner, the accident flight was the airplane's first flight of a 40-hour test flight program. The pilot departed C08 and climbed to 12,000 feet. The pilot noticed that the oil temperature began to increase and then noted a loss of oil pressure. The engine stopped producing power and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its fuselage. An examination of the engine revealed that a gasket between the remote oil filter adapter and the "spin-on" filter mounting pad had failed which resulted in a loss of oil. The owner reported that the gasket was lubricated with a compound upon installation. It could not be determined if the compound degraded the gasket. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71AJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71AJ), registered now, S/N 3314, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CROSS DAVID L GLASAIR III - Registry model: [Cross David L GLASAIR III](https://openairdocs.org/model/cross-david-l-glasair-iii) (registry code 05605DY) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-K1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-k1a5) (registry code 41663, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 3314 - Airframe hours: 2 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1E5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: C08, Westcliffe, CO - Destination: C08, Westcliffe, CO - Airport: C08, Silver West ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KPUB, 44 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 20120807017009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120807017009A), Aug 7, 2012: Cross David L GLASAIR III, Westcliff, CO, Substantial damage. On 08/07/2012, N71AJ, a glasair experimental kit-built aircraft experienced off-airport landing due to catastrophic engine failure. Aircraft substantially… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84676. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 716 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387945&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Correspondence (item 2, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387946&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Airplane (item 3, .PDF, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387947&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Airplane-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Photo of the oil filter gasket (photo courtesy of owner) (item 4, .PDF, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387948&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Photo%20of%20the%20oil%20filter%20gasket%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20owner)-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.