# NTSB CEN13LA460: Snyder Todd W Titan Tornado 1, N70786, Wild Rose, WI, August 3, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 2013, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Wild Rose, WI - Coordinates: 44.197498, -89.217781 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1975&lon=-89.2178&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 87675 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA460 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87675/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87675 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA460 ## Probable cause The improperly secured spark plug, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ignition system: spark plugs/igniters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057421): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Snyder Todd W TITAN TORNADO 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057421/cases.md?model=056299Y), [All aircraft, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057421/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure; cases with it: [Snyder Todd W TITAN TORNADO 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=056299Y), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Snyder Todd W TITAN TORNADO 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056299Y), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Snyder Todd W TITAN TORNADO 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056299Y), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, the airplane's engine lost power. The airplane hit trees and then terrain, resulting in substantial damage. A postaccident examination revealed that one spark plug and its lead assembly had separated from its cylinder. Examination of the threads and the orifice on the cylinder revealed no anomalies. Further examination revealed that the remaining spark plugs were loose but had not separated from their respective cylinders. It is likely that the spark plug that had become separated was also loose and not properly secured during maintenance. Examination of the airplane's engine, airframe, and systems revealed no additional anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 2013, about 1130 central daylight time, an experimental amateur built Titan Tornado 1 airplane, N70786, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain after takeoff at Wild Rose Idlewild Airport (W23), Wild Rose, Wisconsin. The private pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who traveled to the scene, several witnesses reported that the pilot was having problems with his engine. The pilot had removed and cleaned the spark plugs and was flying the airplane to see if the problem persisted. Shortly after takeoff the engine lost power. The airplane hit trees and then terrain, resulting in substantial damage to both wings, the empennage, and the fuselage. The FAA inspector reported that one spark plug and lead assembly had separated from its cylinder. Examination of the threads and the orifice on the cylinder revealed no anomalies. He stated that the remaining spark plugs were loose but had not separated from their respective cylinders. An examination of the airframe and remaining systems revealed no anomalies. In a telephone conversation with the pilot, he stated that he had not been having problems with the engine and had not removed or cleaned the spark plugs prior to the accident. He stated that the accident flight was the first flight of the airplane; he had just purchased the airplane and had not operated it or flown it prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70786](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70786-2015-06-15), registration cancelled 2015-06-15, S/N T98503S0H0315, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SNYDER TODD W TITAN TORNADO 1 - Registry model: [Snyder Todd W TITAN TORNADO 1](https://openairdocs.org/model/snyder-todd-w-titan-tornado-1) (registry code 056299Y) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-series) (registry code 55564, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: T98503S0H0315 - Airframe hours: 166 - Engines: ROTAX 503 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 31, 2012 - Departed: W23, Wild Rose, WI - Destination: W23, Wild Rose, WI - Airport: W23, Wild Rose Idlewild Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review August 1, 2013; seat: single; flight hours: 89 total, 0.1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: Y50, 10 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 20130803015249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130803015249A), Aug 3, 2013: Snyder Todd W TITAN TORNADO 1, Wild Rose, WI, Destroyed. Pilot failed to correctly insert spark plug and torque after performing preventative maintenance prior to initial test flight. Spark plug fell out on aircraft… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87675. 875 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 638 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400165&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Record of Conversation - CEN13LA460 (item 2, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400185&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20CEN13LA460-Master.PDF - Record of Telephone Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402297&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Telephone Conversation - FAA (item 4, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402298&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-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.