# NTSB CHI81FEM23: Sonerai II, N88877, Escanaba, MI, June 27, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: June 27, 1981
- Place: Escanaba, MI · ESCANABA, MI
- Location: 45.7463° N, 87.0836° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Escanaba, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7463&lon=-87.0836&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 21, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125442
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FEM23
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FEM23

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1163  81/6/27    ESCANABA,MI         SONERAI II          CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1230                    N88877              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 57, 15000 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 21 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DELTA COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ESCANABA,MI                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: VALVE ASSEMBLIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - BINDING
           MISCELLANEOUS - EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID COLLISION
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- 1600CC VW ENG.NO 4 VLV GUIDE CRACKED,OUT OF PSN.VLV BINDING.TURNED TO AVOID AUTO,HIT RD CURB,POLE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N88877](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88877), registered now, S/N 476 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SONERAI II
- Registry model: [Olsen SONERAI II](https://openairdocs.org/model/olsen-sonerai-ii) (registry code 05659A1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Delta County

## 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 19810627036519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810627036519A), Jun 27, 1981: Amtrmo SONERAI2, Escanaba, MI, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed during emergency landing attempt after engine failure on climbout.

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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