- Date
- August 22, 1992, 10:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place
- Holland, MI
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N15672Taylorcraft H-2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 31, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920822032709A
- Case key
- 15241
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Not maintaining a sufficient airspeed during the reversal turn and encountering a stall/spin maneuver.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The antique airplane had its engine changed to a three cylinder radial unit. Shortly after takeoff, during its initial climb, the engine experienced a partial power loss at approximately 200 feet above the ground. The pilot attempted to return to the departure runway by reversing his flight path. During the turn toward the runway the airplane entered a stall and subsequent spin. The airplane collided with the ground shortly thereafter. The on-scene investigation revealed the engine's number three cylinder had a fractured intake rocker arm. Metallurgical exam revealed the fracture resulted from fatigue.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N15672
- Reported as
- Taylorcraft H-2
- Category
- Airplane
- Engine
- Szekely SR-3-O, 35 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Philip J. Michmerhuizen
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport
- HLM · Park Township, runway 23, 3,075 × 50 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 2,500 total · 8 in this make and model · 2,300 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MKG, 22 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.