# NTSB CEN18LA117: Black Donald Cozy III, N904DB, Los Lunas, NM, February 17, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 17, 2018, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Los Lunas, NM - Coordinates: 34.761112, -106.745002 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7611&lon=-106.7450&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96841 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96841/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96841 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA117 ## Probable cause The seizure of the propeller gearbox for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, which resulted in a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Propeller system: propeller assembly](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046110): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Black Donald COZY III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046110/cases.md?model=05630IT), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046110/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Black Donald COZY III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05630IT), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Black Donald COZY III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=05630IT), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Black Donald COZY III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05630IT), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis After an uneventful 1-hour personal flight in the experimental amateur-built airplane, the pilot was setting up for an approach to the airport when the propeller seized. The pilot attempted to land at the airport but slightly overshot the runway. The landing gear sheared upon touchdown, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and center fuselage section. Examination of the airplane revealed that the propeller gearbox was seized. Examination of the gearbox did not reveal any obvious reason for the seizure. The airplane and engine had been operated about 13.4 total hours since its initial airworthiness certificate was issued about 6 years before the accident. The reason for the gearbox seizure could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On February 17, 2018, about 1500 mountain standard time, a Cozy III experimental amateur-built airplane, N904DB, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after an in-flight propeller gearbox failure at the Mid Valley Airpark (E98), Los Lunas, New Mexico. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was privately owned, and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The flight originated from E98 about 1400. After flying uneventful for about 1 hour in the local area, the pilot set up for landing at E98. On downwind for runway 36, the propeller seized and the pilot executed a forced landing to runway 36. While turning on final approach, the pilot slightly overshot the runway and touched down hard on the right edge of the runway. The landing gear were sheared upon touchdown and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and center fuselage section. Examination of the airplane revealed that the propeller gearbox was seized. Examination of the gearbox did not reveal any obvious reason for the seizure. Logbooks indicated that the airplane and engine total hours were about 13.4 since it's initial airworthiness certificate was issued on July 5, 2012. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N904DB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N904DB), registered now, S/N 64, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BLACK DONALD COZY III (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Black Donald COZY III](https://openairdocs.org/model/black-donald-cozy-iii) (registry code 05630IT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Mazda 13B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/mazda-13b) (registry code 43200, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 64 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 13.4 - Engines: Mazda Renesis 13B 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 5, 2012, 13 hours before - Departed: E98, Los Lunas, NM - Destination: E98, Los Lunas, NM - Airport: E98, Mid Valley Airpark, runway 36, 4,332 × 37 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,220 total, 13 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: -6 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: E80, 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 20180217002699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180217002699A), Feb 17, 2018: Black Donald COZY III, Los Lunas, NM, Substantial damage. On February 17, 2018, at 1500 MST, a 2011 Black Donald. Cozy III, N904DB registered to [privacy data omitted] touched down hard on the edge of the runway… ## Other investigations on N904DB (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN12CA496](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA496), Jul 29, 2012: Black Donald Cozy III (N904DB), Los Lunas, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loose oil line, which allowed oil to leak onto the hot engine turbocharger and resulted in a fire. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 15, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96841. 678 KB in all. - Memorandum for the Record FAA Inspector Report CEN18LA117-signed (item 1, .PDF, 180 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479915&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20FAA%20Inspector%20Report%20CEN18LA117-signed-Master.PDF - Memorandum for the Record Pilot Statement CEN18LA117-signed (item 2, .PDF, 181 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479916&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Pilot%20Statement%20CEN18LA117-signed-Master.PDF - Photo Array CEN18LA117 (item 3, .PDF, 317 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479917&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN18LA117-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.