# NTSB CHI99LA275: Fairchild 24 C8C, N15345, La Fayette, IL, July 28, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 28, 1999, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: La Fayette, IL - Coordinates: 41.100547, -89.969261 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1005&lon=-89.9693&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46912 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA275 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46912/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA275 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to obtain/maintain the proper descent rate. A factor to the accident was the partial loss of engine power as a result of the exhaust valve keeper becoming unlocked, which jammed the exhaust valve. ## 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, cruise - engine assembly,valve keeper - unlocked (contributing factor) - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - jammed (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Hard landing, landing - proper descent rate - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during cruise flight, at 3,000 feet mean sea level, he noticed a substantial amount of engine oil on the right windshield. The pilot stated that, approximately one minute after noticing the oil, the engine's rpm began to drop continuously. The pilot reported that, approximately two minutes after he first noticed the oil on the windshield, the engine began a gradual loss of power. The pilot stated that he positioned the aircraft into the wind and executed a forced landing onto a State Highway. The pilot stated that he flared 'as best as energy would allow and skidded 300' to [a] stop.' The pilot reported that the flare 'would not completely arrest [the] sink rate causing [the] gear to collapse.' Post accident inspection of the engine revealed a crack in the head of the number two cylinder. Cylinder number two's rocker-arm cover was removed, revealing that the exhaust valve stem keeper had become unlocked, allowing the valve to drop down into the cylinder's bore. The exhaust valve stem was found to be jammed in its guide. ## Factual narrative On July 28, 1999, at 1500 central daylight time, a Fairchild 24 C8C, N15345, piloted by an Airline Transport Pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during cruise flight, near La Fayette, Illinois. 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 and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight departed Hannibal Municipal Airport, Hannibal, Missouri, at 1340 and was en route to Dacy Airport, Harvard, Illinois, at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that, during cruise flight, at 3,000 feet mean sea level (msl), he noticed a substantial amount of engine oil on the right windshield. The pilot stated that, approximately one minute after noticing the oil, the engine's rpm began to drop continuously. The pilot decided to make a precautionary landing at the Kewanee Municipal Airport, Kewanee, Illinois, which was 15 nautical miles northeast of his position. The pilot reported that, approximately two minutes after he first noticed the oil on the windshield, the engine began a gradual loss of power, and he described the engine's operation as "grinding." The pilot stated that he positioned the aircraft into the wind, along Illinois State Highway 17, and executed the forced landing onto the State Highway. The pilot stated that he flared, "...as best as energy would allow and skidded 300' to [a] stop." The pilot reported that the flare, "...would not completely arrest [the] sink rate causing [the] gear to collapse." Post accident inspection of the engine revealed a crack in the head of the number two cylinder. Cylinder number two's rocker-arm cover was removed, revealing that the exhaust valve stem keeper had become unlocked, allowing the valve to drop down into the cylinder's bore. The exhaust valve stem was found to be jammed in its guide. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N15345](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N15345), registered now, S/N 2688, built 1935 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Fairchild 24 C8C - Registry model: [Fairchild 24 C8C](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-24-c8c) (registry code 3370208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Warner SS40&50](https://openairdocs.org/engine/warner-ss40-50) (registry code 64503, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2688 - Engines: Warner SS-50 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert M. Reinauer - Registered owner: Martin R. Engler - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1998 - Departed: HAE, HANNIBAL, MO - Destination: 0C0, HARVARD, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 13,300 total, 18 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 88 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 13 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PIA, 30 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 19990728010039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990728010039A), Jul 28, 1999: Frchld 24C8C, Lafayette, IL, Substantial damage. Departed otso to oshkosh, engine failed, damaged acft in landing. (.19) on July 28, 1999, at 1500 central daylight time, a fairchild 24 C8C, N15345, piloted by… 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.