# NTSB DEN07LA133: Walker Lancair IV, N7441W, Sylvan Grove, KS, August 1, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 1, 2007, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Sylvan Grove, KS - Coordinates: 38.993888, -99.595275 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9939&lon=-99.5953&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 66370 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN07LA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66370/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07LA133 ## Probable cause A catastrophic engine failure due to oil starvation when an oil line to the turbocharger wastegate actuator came loose. Contributing factors in this accident were the unsuitable terrain on which to make a forced landing. ## 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 - normal - lubricating system,oil line - not secured (cause) - fluid,oil - starvation (cause) - engine assembly,connecting rod bolt - failure - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - open field - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The airplane had been fully serviced with fuel and oil prior to takeoff. During the initial climb to 10,500 feet, the electronic manifold pressure gauge malfunctioned so the pilot managed power "by throttle position." He reduced power when the number 2 cylinder head temperature increased more than the other cylinder head temperatures. Almost immediately upon leveling off, the engine lost power. When the fuel boost pump was switched to HIGH, the engine "fired and achieved lower power for 30 seconds." Mixture control manipulation restarted the engine, but after a few seconds there was "an explosion and a lot of smoke." The engine stopped but [the propeller] "appeared to be turning freely" all the way down. The pilot made a rapid descent and landed in an open field. The airplane rolled about 400 feet, crested a small rise, then struck a ground depression that collapsed the landing gear. The airplane then slid sideways for another 300 feet. The pilot used his cellular telephone to alert authorities of the accident. FAA inspectors examined the engine, a Continental TSIO-550-B-1-B (s.n. 802008), and found evidence of catastrophic engine failure. An oil line to the turbocharger wastegate actuator had come loose, causing oil starvation and high heat distress. A hole in the engine case exposed the number 5 journal and imprints from rod bolt strikes. The airplane was built in 1992. The engine had a total time of 88 hours. ## Factual narrative On August 1, 2007, approximately 1615 central daylight time, a Walker Lancair IV, N7441W, piloted by an airline transport-certificated pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power three miles southeast of Sylvan Grove, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was seriously injured. The cross-country flight originated at Junction City, Kansas (3JC), and was en route to Farmington, New Mexico (FMN). Its final destination was Santa Barbara, California (SBA). The pilot had just purchased the airplane and was ferrying it home. According to the pilot's accident report dictated to an FAA inspector from his hospital bed, the airplane had been "fully serviced with fuel and oil" prior to his departure. During the initial climb to 10,500 feet, the electronic manifold pressure gauge malfunctioned so he managed power "by throttle position." He reduced power when the number 2 cylinder head temperature increased more than the other cylinder head temperatures. Almost immediately upon leveling off, the engine lost power. When the fuel boost pump was switched to HIGH, the engine "fired and achieved lower power for 30 seconds." Mixture control manipulation restarted the engine, but after a few seconds there was "an explosion and a lot of smoke." The engine stopped but [the propeller] "appeared to be turning freely" all the way down. The pilot made a rapid descent and landed in an open field. The airplane rolled about 400 feet, crested a small rise, then struck a ground depression that collapsed the landing gear and buckled the firewall. The airplane then slid sideways for another 300 feet. The pilot used his cellular telephone to alert authorities of the accident. FAA inspectors examined the engine, a Continental TSIO-550-B-1-B (s.n. 802008), and found evidence of catastrophic engine failure. An oil line to the turbocharger wastegate actuator had come loose, resulting in oil starvation and high heat distress. A hole in the engine case exposed the number 5 journal and imprints from rod bolt strikes. The airplane was built in 1992. The engine had a total time of 88 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7441W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7441W-2013-08-14), registration cancelled 2013-08-14, S/N LIV-076, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Walker Lancair IV - Registry model: [Walker David S LANCAIR IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/walker-david-s-lancair-iv) (registry code 05601FU) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: LIV-076 - Airframe hours: 90 - Engines: Continental TSIO-550-B 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bruce A. Stratton - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 1, 2007 - Departed: 3JC, Junction City, KS - Destination: FMN, Farmington, NM ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 14 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: RSL, 29 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 20070801018149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070801018149A), Aug 1, 2007: Amtr LANCAIRIV, Sylvan Grove, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) On 08/01/2007 at approximately 1355 CST, experimental/amateur-built aircraft, Lancair iv, N7441W departed junction city, KS (3JC) in VFR conditions… ## Other investigations on N7441W (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI03LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA116), Apr 26, 2003: Walker Lancair IV (N7441W), Wamego, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot not maintaining altitude/clearance from the runway while maneuvering on final approach. A factor to the accident was the pilot's misjudgment of his altitude while on final approach. 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.