# NTSB CHI95LA145: Franklin EAA BI-PLANE/P1, N3428, Rockville, IN, May 2, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 2, 1995, 18:27 local (23:27 UTC) - Place: Rockville, IN - Coordinates: 39.760292, -87.230895 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7603&lon=-87.2309&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9884 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA145 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9884/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA145 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper maintenance installation and his inadvertent takeoff. A factor was the pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - combustion assembly - scored - maintenance,installation - improper, owner/builder (cause) - lift-off - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT HE WAS CONDUCTING AN ENGINE RUNUP BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT DEVELOP FULL POWER. HE DECIDED TO TAXI DOWN THE RUNWAY WITH NO INTENTION OF TAKING OFF, BUT INADVERTENTLY BECAME AIRBORNE. SHORTLY AFTER THE UNINTENTIONAL TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER, TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND IMPACTED TERRAIN. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED EVIDENCE OF HEAT DAMAGE AND ABNORMAL PISTON RING WEAR. THERE WERE SCRAPE MARKINGS ON THE PISTON, PISTON RINGS, AND CYLINDER WALL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE PERFORMED THE CYLINDER AND RING CHANGE AND WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE CYLINDER AND RING COMBINATION WERE NOT COMPATIBLE. ## Factual narrative On May 2, 1995, at 1827 eastern standard time, a Franklin EAA Bi- Plane/P1, registered to a private owner, of Rockville, Indiana, received substantial damage on impact with terrain following a takeoff to the west and experiencing a loss of engine power. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. The pilot reported minor injuries. No flight plan was on file. The local flight was on departure from the Bulter Airport, Rockville, Indiana, at the time of the accident. The pilot reported in his written statement, that he was conducting an engine runup, because the engine would not develop full power. He decided to taxi down the runway with no intention of taking off, but inadvertently became airborne. The engine sustained a power loss shortly after liftoff. Witnesses stated that the takeoff appeared normal until at the end of the runway, the engine sounded like it was reduced to idle power. Postaccident examination of the engine was conducted. An FAA Inspector's report stated, "...evidence of heat damage and abnormal piston ring wear. There were scrape markings on the piston, piston rings, and cylinder wall...". The pilot said that he performed a cylinder and piston ring change and was not aware that the rings and cylinder were not compatible. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3428](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3428-2017-03-24), registration cancelled 2017-03-24, S/N 24610, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FRANKLIN EAA BI-PLANE/P1 (EAA BI-PLA) - Registry model: [Franklin Eaa Biplane P-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/franklin-eaa-biplane-p-1) (registry code 33601MA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 24610 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C 118 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Underwood, Jack E. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 7I8 - Airport: 7I8, Butler Field Airport, runway 27, 2,600 × 500 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; student; medical: class 3, expired; seat: center; flight hours: 500 total, 60 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HUF, 17 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 19950502009209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950502009209A), May 2, 1995: Rockville, IN, Destroyed. After departure, during climb engine quit, aircraft crashed while attempting to land in pasture. (-23) aircraft lost power during climb out from runway 27 at… 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.