# NTSB DEN07CA019: Luscombe 8F, N26324, Wellsville, KS, November 5, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 5, 2006, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Wellsville, KS - Coordinates: 38.542221, -95.254997 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5422&lon=-95.2550&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 26, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 64819 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN07CA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64819/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07CA019 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the ingestion of the number 2 intake valve into its cylinder. Contributing factors included the pilot allowing the airspeed and altitude to drop, making a safe landing not possible. ## 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 - normal - engine assembly,valve,intake - ingested (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - airspeed - low, pilot in command (contributing factor) - altitude - low, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot said the engine made a loud "bang" approximately 10 minutes into the flight and lost power. The airplane was vibrating, so the pilot secured the engine and shut off the fuel supply. The pilot declared an emergency, then attempted to land in a bean field. The airplane had "insufficient speed and altitude" to clear a tree line and struck the trees. Engine disassembly revealed the number 2 intake valve had been completely "swallowed" into the cylinder. The engine had accrued 1,700.49 hours since overhaul. The rated time-between-overhaul for the Continental C-90-12F engine is 1,800 hours. ## Factual narrative On November 5, 2006, approximately 1100 central standard time, a Luscombe 8F, N26324, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when the it struck trees and impacted terrain following a loss of power during landing approach to a field in Wellsville, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. The cross-country flight originated from Ottawa, Kansas, approximately 1030, and was en route to Gardner Kansas. According to a telephone interview and the pilot's accident report, the engine made a loud "bang" approximately 10 minutes into the flight and lost power. The airplane was vibrating, so the pilot secured the engine. The pilot declared an emergency, then attempted to land in a bean field. The airplane had "insufficient speed and altitude" to clear a tree line and struck the trees. Both wings were extensively damaged and the fuselage was crumpled. An FAA inspector responded to the accident site and reported the engine oil "at a normal level." Examination of the maintenance records revealed the following: Last annual inspection: November 9, 2005 Current tachometer time: 2,066.12 hours Aircraft total time: 17,731.9 hours Time since overhaul (TSO): 1,700.49 hours Overhaul date: Unknown Rated overhaul time: 1,800 hours Engine disassembly revealed the number 2 intake valve had been completely "swallowed" into the cylinder. The engine had accrued 1,700.49 hours since overhaul. The rated time-between-overhaul for the Continental C-90-12F engine is 1,800 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N26324](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26324), registered now, S/N 6728, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Luscombe 8F - Registry model: [Luscombe 8F](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8f) (registry code 8190114) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6728 - Airframe hours: 17732 - Engines: Continental C-90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael W. Dann - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2005, 29 hours before - Departed: OWI, Ottawa, KS - Destination: K34, Gardner, KS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 465 total, 32 in this make and model, 403 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 9 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: IXD ## 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 20061105022949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061105022949A), Nov 5, 2006: Luscom 8F, Wellsville, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) On November 6th, 2006 at 1050 hrs local, the pilot [privacy data omitted] departed the ottawa, KS (owi) municipal airport destined to the gardner, KS… 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.