# NTSB CEN19LA204: Waco YMF-5C, N63WC, Bar Harbor, ME, June 22, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 22, 2019, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Bar Harbor, ME
- Coordinates: 44.379249, -68.209838 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3792&lon=-68.2098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 99768
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA204
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99768/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99768
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA204

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to a cylinder failure for undetermined reasons.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Waco YMF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=9600411), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md)
- [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Waco YMF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=9600411), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Waco YMF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=9600411), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Analysis

About 15 minutes into the air tour flight, the pilot heard a loud “crack/bang” from the front of the airplane, followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing to wet, marshy terrain, during which the left wing impacted a tree and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the wings. One of the radial engine’s cylinders was fractured at the barrel head joint, which resulted in the loss of engine power. The airplane was operated without engine cowling installed. According to the airplane’s owner, the cowling assists with engine cooling in vintage radial engines. The airplane was not examined after the accident and the reason for the cylinder failure was not determined.

## Factual narrative

On June 22, 2019, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Waco YMF airplane, N63WC, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Bar Harbor, Maine. The pilot and two passengers sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 air tour flight. The flight departed for a 25-minute sightseeing tour of Acadia National Park. The pilot reported that the flight was normal until he heard a loud "crack/bang" from the front of the airplane, followed by a steady noise for about 10 seconds that sounded "similar to a helicopter," and the propeller subsequently stopped turning. The pilot conducted a forced landing to wet, marshy terrain, during which the left wing impacted a tree and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the upper and lower wings. The airplane owner reported that one of the engine cylinders was fractured at the barrel head joint. The airplane was operated without engine cowling installed. According to the airplane’s owner, the cowling assists with engine cooling in vintage radial engines.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63WC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63WC-2021-07-03), registration cancelled 2021-07-03, S/N F5C-077, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Waco YMF-5C (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Waco YMF](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-ymf) (registry code 9600411) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Jacobs R755B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-r755b-series) (registry code 35007, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: F5C-077
- Year built: 1997
- Engines: Jacobs R755A2 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KBHB, Trenton, ME
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 7, 2019; seat: center; flight hours: 357.6 total, 81.6 in this make and model, 307.8 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.65 inHg
- Observed at: KBHB, 8 nm away
- METAR: KBHB 221356Z AUTO 01008KT 10SM CLR 20/12 A2965 RMK AO2 SLP045 T02000117 $

## 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 20190622007799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190622007799A), Jun 22, 2019: Waco YMF, Bar Harbor, ME, Substantial damage. Approximately 15 minutes into the flight, at 1900 feet MSL, the pilot and both passengers heard a loud bang followed by the engine quitting. The pilot…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 25, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99768. 14.5 MB in all.

- NTSB form 6120 pilot operator report CEN19LA204 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13268986&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report%20CEN19LA204_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statement CEN19LA204 (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 10.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13269412&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20CEN19LA204_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Passenger ford statement CEN19LA204 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 220 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13269736&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Passenger%20Ford%20Statement%20CEN19LA204_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Passenger mclean statement CEN19LA204 (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13269142&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Passenger%20McLean%20Statement%20CEN19LA204_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for the record reported engine examination findings CEN19LA204 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13269152&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Reported%20Engine%20Examination%20Findings%20CEN19LA204_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array CEN19LA204 (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 702 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13269422&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Phot%20Array%20CEN19LA204-Rel.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.

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