# NTSB CHI07LA080: Wood Quickie Q-2, N89WW, Edwardsville, IL, March 5, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 5, 2007, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Edwardsville, IL - Coordinates: 38.8038888888889, -89.9583333333333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8039&lon=-89.9583&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - STL FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65376 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65376/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07LA080 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during cruise due to loose cylinder head bolts/loose cylinders. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - engine assembly,cylinder - loose part/bolt/nut/clamp/etc (cause) - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - engine assembly,cylinder - loose (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis "THIS CASE WAS MODIFIED AUGUST 19, 2008." The pilot reported to air traffic control that the experimental amateur built airplane's engine was malfunctioning. A forced landing was made in a corn field, across the corn rows. The airplane nosed over and caught fire. Examination of the engine revealed that both left cylinders had no compression, and the cylinder head bolts were found with zero torque. The lower forward hold down bolt was found backed out 1/8 inch. After removing the cylinder head and barrels for both left cylinders, evidence of severe combustion gas blow by was found on both barrels and both heads. Metal was melted out of the heads at the bottom forward and bottom aft hold down bolt areas. The loose cylinder head barrels would have resulted in a significant loss of engine power. Toxicology testing revealed that the pilot had recently used two different impairing medications, but it is unclear whether the medication use was relevant to the accident sequence. ## Factual narrative "THIS CASE WAS MODIFIED AUGUST 19, 2008." On March 5, 2007, at 1430 central standard time, an experimental amateur-built Wood Quickie Q-2, N89WW, received substantial damage on impact with an agricultural field near Edwardsville, Illinois. The pilot reported that the airplane was having engine problems to air traffic control after takeoff from St. Louis Regional Airport (ALN), Alton/St. Louis, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated at 1410. The pilot of another airplane, N65KC, heard N89WW issue the distress call to ALN tower. Approximately 1430, the pilot of N65KC saw N89WW and followed the airplane to the accident site. He stated that N89WW was trailing blue smoke and performed an emergency landing in a corn field. He described the landing as "hard and fast" and witnessed N89WW flip over during the landing. He stated that there was no fire or smoke from N89WW for about one to two minutes after the accident, after which a post-crash ground fire ensued until emergency personnel arrived at approximately 1445. Ground scarring from the landing was not parallel to the rows within the field. An examination of the engine was performed by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors. Both left side cylinders were found with no compression and the cylinder head bolts were found with zero torque. The lower left hand cylinder forward hold down bolt was found backed out 1/8 inch. After removing the cylinder head and barrels for both left cylinders, evidence of severe combustion gas blow by was found on both barrels and both heads. Metal was melted out of the left hand heads at the bottom forward and bottom aft hold down bolt areas. An autopsy was performed by the Madison County Coroner's Office at the Madison County Morgue in Wood River, Illinois. The FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute prepared a Final Forensic Toxicology Accident Report for the pilot. The report indicated: 30% CARBON MONOXIDE detected in Blood 1.79 ug/ml CYANIDE detected in Blood 0.467 ug/ml DIPHENHYDRAMINE detected in Blood DIPHENHYDRAMINE detected in Liver 0.077 ug/mL TRAMADOL detected in Blood 0.247 ug/mL TRAMADOL detected in Liver Tramadol (also known by the trade name Ultram) is a prescription medication used for the management of moderate to severe pain. Diphenhydramine (commonly known by the trade name Benadryl) is an over-the-counter antihistamine with sedative effects, often used to treat allergy symptoms or as a nighttime sedative. The pilot did not indicate the use of tramadol or diphenhydramine on any of his applications for airman medical certificate. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89WW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89WW-2007-10-17), registration cancelled 2007-10-17, S/N 2365, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Wood Quickie Q-2 - Registry model: [Wood Bruce M QUICKIE Q-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/wood-bruce-m-quickie-q-2) (registry code 05645MM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Revmaster 2100](https://openairdocs.org/engine/revmaster-2100) (registry code 52550, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2365 - Engines: Revmaster 2100 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: ALN, Alton/St. Louis, IL - Destination: Unknown - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; toxicology performed; flight hours: 350 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: ALN ## 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 20070305003389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070305003389A), Mar 5, 2007: QUICKIEQ2, Edwardsville, IL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) N89WW departed alton regional airport, alton, IL (kaln) at 1410 CST. N89WW issued distress call to alton, IL (kaln) ATCT at 1428 CST indicating engine… 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.