# NTSB CEN14CA318: Meyer Geoffrey A Goat, N987SL, Wolcott, CO, June 16, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 16, 2014, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Wolcott, CO - Coordinates: 39.77917, -106.460746 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7792&lon=-106.4607&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 89538 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA318 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89538/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89538 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA318 ## Probable cause The failure of an oil line leading to the oil pressure transducer which resulted in oil starvation and subsequent 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: [Meyer Geoffrey A GOAT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=056203X), [All aircraft, 130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md) - [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Meyer Geoffrey A GOAT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=056203X), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Meyer Geoffrey A GOAT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=056203X), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Meyer Geoffrey A GOAT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=056203X), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Meyer Geoffrey A GOAT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=056203X), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Meyer Geoffrey A GOAT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056203X), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis While flying a single engine airplane VFR at 12,500 feet MSL, the pilot noticed a drop in oil pressure and smelled burning oil. He immediately turned back toward an airport, declared an emergency, and reduced the power to idle. During the emergency descent, the pilot encountered very strong winds out of the south and maneuvered the airplane toward a golf course fairway and secured the engine by pulling the mixture to idle cut off position. The airplane touched down in a strong crosswind on the fairway and the initial rollout was under control, but the airplane rolled over a very large landscape bump (approximately 4 feet tall) in the fairway. The airplane became airborne after the bump and the left wing rose rapidly upon the second touchdown. The airplane was heading toward a small pond and the pilot applied brake pressure, but the large tundra tires were sliding on the wet grass. The pilot decided to intentionally ground loop the airplane to avoid sliding into the pond. The right wing contacted the ground causing substantial damage to the wing. The airplane came to rest near the edge of the pond and the pilot and passenger exited through the pilot side door with no injuries. After the accident the airplane was examined and a standard fitting on the accessory section of the engine which leads to the oil pressure transducer was found sheared completely, which would have caused an instantaneous and complete loss of oil pressure and a loss of most of the engine oil in flight. There was no collateral damage or evidence in or around the AN fitting to determine the reason for failure. ## Factual narrative While flying a single engine airplane VFR at 12,500 feet MSL, the pilot noticed a drop in oil pressure and smelled burning oil. He immediately turned back toward an airport, declared an emergency, and reduced the power to idle. During the emergency descent, the pilot encountered very strong winds out of the south and maneuvered the airplane toward a golf course fairway and secured the engine by pulling the mixture to idle cut off position. The airplane touched down in a strong crosswind on the fairway and the initial rollout was under control, but the airplane rolled over a very large landscape bump (approximately 4 feet tall) in the fairway. The airplane became airborne after the bump and the left wing rose rapidly upon the second touchdown. The airplane was heading toward a small pond and the pilot applied brake pressure, but the large tundra tires were sliding on the wet grass. The pilot decided to intentionally ground loop the airplane to avoid sliding into the pond. The right wing contacted the ground causing substantial damage to the wing. The airplane came to rest near the edge of the pond and the pilot and passenger exited through the pilot side door with no injuries. After the accident the airplane was examined and a standard fitting on the accessory section of the engine which leads to the oil pressure transducer was found sheared completely, which would have caused an instantaneous and complete loss of oil pressure and a loss of most of the engine oil in flight. There was no collateral damage or evidence in or around the AN fitting to determine the reason for failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N987SL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N987SL), registered now, S/N 1028KCM, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MEYER GEOFFREY A GOAT (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Meyer Geoffrey A GOAT](https://openairdocs.org/model/meyer-geoffrey-a-goat) (registry code 056203X) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41585, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1028KCM - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 150.9 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 31, 2013 - Departed: GWS, Glenwood, CO - Destination: BDU, Boulder, CO - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 10, 2014; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 25 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 20 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89538. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442188&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 2, .PDF, 464 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442189&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.