# NTSB CHI96LA054: Bitonti Wittman WT-8, N88TK, Plymouth, MI, December 16, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 16, 1995, 10:38 local (15:38 UTC) - Place: Plymouth, MI - Coordinates: 42.369934, -83.460792 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3699&lon=-83.4608&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 April 1, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10169 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10169/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA054 ## Probable cause a stuck exhaust valve resulting in an overtemperature condition of the cylinder, the pilot's continued operation without corrective maintenance, and his failure to maintain aircraft control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - engine assembly,cylinder - low compression - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - open (cause) - engine assembly,cylinder - overtemperature (cause) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - Loss of control - in flight, emergency landing after takeoff - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot reported that when he started the engine he had a hard time keeping the engine running at idle. After takeoff, at about 300 feet, he noticed the cylinder head temperature was in the red zone. The pilot retarded the throttle and a total power loss occurred. During descent he lost control of the airplane and it collided with two trailers and two boats. Postcrash examination revealed that an exhaust valve on the #1 cylinder was stuck open, and that compression in the #3 cylinder was weak. The pilot stated that he had hot cylinder head temperatures before, and that pulling back on the throttle had worked previously. ## Factual narrative On December 16, 1995, at 1038 eastern standard time (est), a Bitonti-Wittman WT-8, N88TK, was destroyed during a collision with the ground shortly after takeoff from Canton-Plymouth Mettetal Airport, Plymouth, Michigan. The private pilot reported minor injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on filed. According to the pilot's written statement, he said when he started the engine that morning he had a hard time keeping the engine running below 1100 RPM. After takeoff at about 300 feet, the pilot observed the engine's cylinder head temperature had reached the red zone, so he pulled back on the throttle. When he pulled back slightly on the throttle, total power loss occurred. The pilot maneuvered the airplane to avoid houses and noticed a small clearing in a storage lot so he decided to land there. On descent, the pilot lost control of the airplane and the right wing struck two trailers and two boats. The airplane was consumed by post crash fire. The pilot was found sitting under the left wing and was pulled to safety. A Federal Aviation Administration Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI), represented the NTSB on-scene. The PMI said the engine examination revealed that the #1 cylinder had no compression because of a stuck open exhaust valve and the compression in cylinder #3 was weak. The exhaust valve springs were very weak. The pilot told the PMI that in the past he has had hot cylinder head temperatures before and that pulling back on the throttle had worked previously. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88TK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N88TK-2013-09-30), registration cancelled 2013-09-30, S/N MSB-1, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BITONTI WITTMAN WT-8 (WITTMAN WT) - Registry model: [Bitonti Frank Edward WITTMAN W-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/bitonti-frank-edward-wittman-w-8) (registry code 9790858) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: MSB-1 - Airframe hours: 25 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bitonti, Frank E. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, December 1, 1994, 25 hours before - Departed: 1D2 - Airport: 1D2, Canton-Plymouth Mettetal, runway 32, 6,914 × 160 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 230 total, 23 in this make and model, 167 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: YIP, 1 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 19951216040799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951216040799A), Dec 16, 1995: Amtrwt WITTSV, Plymouth, MI, Destroyed. Hot cyl temp on climbout. Retarded power. Engine quit. Hit trailer boat landing. NR1 exhaust valve stuck open. (-23) on December 16, 1995, frank bitonti crash… 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.