# NTSB CHI99LA143: Narzinski Avid Flyer Mark IV, N313N, West Alton, MO, May 1, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 1, 1999, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: West Alton, MO - Coordinates: 38.860832, -90.219863 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8608&lon=-90.2199&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46222 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46222/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA143 ## Probable cause The failure of the connecting rod bearing, and the rough/uneven terrain condition. ## 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, cruise - engine assembly,bearing - failure (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (cause) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command ## Analysis The engine experienced an uncommanded loss of power from 6,000 rpm to 5,400 rpm over a period of 4-seconds. The pilot reported that he established the airplane on best glide speed and prepared for an off-field landing while the engine experienced a constant depletion of power, finally loosing all power after a period of approximately 30 seconds. The pilot stated that he executed a forced landing into a farm field that had, 'modest furrows'. Substantial damage to the airplane was sustained during the landing. External visual inspection of the engine revealed a hole in the lower engine case on the Power Takeoff (PTO) cylinder side. Internal examination of the engine revealed metal deposits on the PTO cylinder dome, cylinder wall, and piston head. Examination of the PTO connecting rod revealed that the connecting-rod bearing had failed. ## Factual narrative On May 1, 1999, at 1130 central daylight time, a Narzinski Avid Flyer Mark IV, N313N, owned and piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing, following a loss of engine power during cruise flight, near West Alton, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight departed Creve Coeur Airport, Creve Coeur, Missouri at 1100. According to the pilot's written statement, after approximately 30-minutes of flight time, at an altitude of 1,400 feet above mean sea level, the engine experienced an uncommanded loss of power from 6,000 rpm to 5,400 rpm over a period of 4-seconds. The pilot reported that he established the airplane on best glide speed and prepared for an off-field landing while the engine experienced a constant depletion of power, finally loosing all power after a period of approximately 30 seconds. The pilot stated that he executed a forced landing into a farm field that had, "modest furrows". Substantial damage to the airplane was sustained during the landing. The Rotax 582 engine, serial number 4084252, was subjected to a tear-down inspection conducted by the NTSB Investigator-in-Charge and a representative of the engine manufacture. External visual inspection of the engine revealed a hole in the lower engine case on the Power Takeoff (PTO) cylinder side. Internal examination of the engine revealed metal deposits on the PTO cylinder dome, cylinder wall, and piston head. Examination of the PTO connecting rod revealed that the connecting-rod bearing had failed. Photos of the hole in the lower engine case, cylinder dome, cylinder wall, piston head, and connecting-rod are attached to this factual report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N313N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N313N), registered now, S/N 1235D (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Narzinski AVID FLYER MARK IV (AVID FLYER) - Registry model: [Narzinski Daniel AVID FLYER MARK IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/narzinski-daniel-avid-flyer-mark-iv) (registry code 05625JS) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 12350 - Airframe hours: 112 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel Paul Narzinski - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 1998, 12 hours before - Departed: 1H0, CREVE COEUR, MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,421 total, 112 in this make and model, 1,155 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: 90° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SET, 60 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 19990501046429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990501046429A), May 1, 1999: West Alton, MO, No damage. (-23)On may 1, 1999, at 1128 central daylight time (CDT), an experimental aircraft, make: avid flyer and model: mark iv, N313N, piloted by a commerical pilot… 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.