DEN00LA132

When the pilot started the engine, he noticed the coolant temperature was 'slightly warm.' During taxi, coolant temperature increased. The pilot used full power for the high density altitude takeoff from runway 25. The engine overheated, the coolant recovery system failed, and steam entered the cockpit. The rear seat passenger was burned on the hip and back, thought there was a fire, and told the pilot to shut down the engine. The airplane was at an altitude of 700 feet. He secured the engine, turned the airplane around, and glided towards the airport. He declared an emergency, and was cleared to land on runway 5. A water hose broke at this time, and the steam dissipated. The airplane landed on airport property but with the nose landing gear retracted. When the airplane contacted soft dirt the main landing gear was torn off, and it skidded 200 feet, crossed a taxiway, and skidded another 200 feet before coming to a halt.

On July 17, 2000, at 1353 mountain daylight time, a Spencer Long EZE, N51EZ, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during an emergency landing at Four Corners Regional Airport, Farmington, New Mexico. The private pilot was not injured, but his private pilot certificated passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight had originated just moments before the accident.

The following is based on the pilot's accident report and reports from the Federal Aviation Administration. The pilot and his passenger (spouse) flew from Inyokern, California, and landed at Farmington for fuel and lunch. When he started the engine for the next leg of their journey, the pilot noticed the coolant temperature was "slightly warm." During the taxi, coolant temperature increased. The pilot used full power for the high density altitude takeoff on runway 25. The engine overheated, the coolant recovery system failed, and steam entered the cockpit. The rear seat passenger was burned on the hip and back, thought there was a fire, and told the pilot to shut down the engine. The airplane was at an altitude of 700 feet. The pilot to shut down the engine, turned the airplane around, and glided towards the airport. He declared an emergency, and was cleared to land on runway 5. A water hose broke at this time and the escaping steam diminished. The airplane landed on airport property but with the nose landing gear retracted. When it contacted soft dirt, the main landing gear was torn off. The airplane skidded 200 feet, crossed a taxiway, and skidded another 200 feet before coming to a halt. There was substantial damage to the nose section, main landing gear, and fuselage.