# NTSB DFW05LA115: Lancair Legacy, N204RH, Nacogdoches, TX, May 2, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 1, 2005, 19:00 local (May 2, 2005, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Nacogdoches, TX - Coordinates: 31.585556, -94.133331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5856&lon=-94.1333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61399 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05LA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61399/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05LA115 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - Gear collapsed, emergency landing ## Analysis The 20,000-hour pilot reported that while maneuvering at an altitude of 700-800 feet above ground level (agl), when the "sound of the engine suddenly changed" followed by a loss of engine power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to an open field. As the airplane touched down, the main landing gear separated and the airplane skidded to a stop in an upright position. Subsequently, a post crash fire ensued and destroyed the airplane. The pilot added that about three to four minutes prior to the change in the engine sound, he verified on the engine monitoring instrument that all indications where within the green bands. No mechanical anomalies were found during an engine examination. The reason for the loss of engine power was undetermined. ## Factual narrative On May 1, 2005, approximately 1900 central daylight time, a single-engine Lancair Legacy homebuilt experimental airplane, N204RH, registered to and operated by the pilot, was destroyed during a forced landing following a reportd loss of engine power while maneuvering near Nacogdoches, Texas. The airline transport pilot and pilot rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from the A. L. Mangham Jr. Regional Airport (OCH), near Nacogdoches, Texas, approximately 1845. The 20,000-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he was maneuvering at an altitude of 700-800 feet above ground level (agl), when the "sound of the engine suddenly changed" followed by a loss of engine power. As the pilot pitched the airplane up, "to trade airspeed for altitude," he verified the throttle, propeller, and mixture control positions. The pilot stated that he switched from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank and cycled the throttle, but the engine continued to lose power, as he initiated a forced landing to an open field. As the airplane touched down, the main landing gear "sheered off" and the airplane skidded to a stop in an upright position. Subsequently, a post-crash fire ensued and both occupants evacuated the airplane. The pilot added that about three to four minutes prior to the change in the engine sound, he verified on the engine monitoring instrument that all indications where within the green bands. Examination of the airplane by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed that the fuselage and inboard portions of the airplane were consumed by the fire. The wreckage of airplane, which had accumulated approximately 30.1-hours since new, and the Teledyne Continental Motors IO-550-N13B engine which had accumulated 23.7-hours since new, were recovered to the facilities of Air Salvage of Dallas, near Lancaster, Texas, for further examination. Examination of the engine was conducted on June 9, 2005, at the facilities of Teledyne Continental, of Mobile, Alabama, under the supervision of an NTSB representative. The examination revealed that rotational continuity was established throughout the engine and accessory gearbox when the propeller was rotated by hand. The top and bottom sparkplugs were removed and when compared to the Champion Aviation Check-A-Plug Wear Guide (Part Number AV-27), displayed signatures of normal operation. All six cylinders remained attached to the crankcase and were fire damaged. Cylinder #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6 pistons, rings, pins, and connecting rods remained intact and free of anomalies. The crankshaft and counterweight were free of anomalies. The reason for the reportd loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N204RH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N204RH-2007-06-18), registration cancelled 2007-06-18, S/N L2K-226, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Lancair Legacy - Registry model: [Hurst Randall M LANCAIR LEGACY](https://openairdocs.org/model/hurst-randall-m-lancair-legacy) (registry code 05617D8) (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: L2K-226 - Airframe hours: 30.1 - Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-550-N13B 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Randall M Hurst - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: OCH, Nacogdoches, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 20,000 total, 32 in this make and model, 19,000 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: LFK, 21 nm away 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.