# NTSB ERA09LA324: De Havilland Vampire MK-3, N6878D, Rochester, NY, June 6, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 6, 2009, 15:25 local (19:25 UTC) - Place: Rochester, NY - Coordinates: 43.11861, -77.672225 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1186&lon=-77.6722&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73969 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA324 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73969/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73969 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA324 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to oil starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland VAMPIRE MK-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=2801512), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md) - [Engine (turbine/turboprop): turbine section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057250): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure; cases with it: [Dehavilland VAMPIRE MK-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057250/cases.md?model=2801512), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057250/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Dehavilland VAMPIRE MK-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2801512), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland VAMPIRE MK-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2801512), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Dehavilland VAMPIRE MK-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2801512), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Dehavilland VAMPIRE MK-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2801512), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While en-route to his destination, as the airplane climbed through 3,500 feet, the pilot heard a noise coming from the engine and initiated a return to his departure airport. The noise "got louder," and the pilot felt the airplane vibrate during the return. While on final approach for the runway, the engine lost total power. The pilot then retracted the landing gear and prepared for a forced landing to the grass adjacent to the runway. During the landing, the airplane struck a berm, substantially damaging the fuselage. Examination of the engine revealed the oil quantity in the oil sump was less than 2 tablespoons, and no oil was observed in the surrounding area of the engine compartment. The rear bearing in the "hot section" of the turbojet engine exhibited significant scoring, metal fatigue, and erosion. The bearing was completely fused and unable to be rotated. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 6, 2009 at 1525 eastern daylight time, an experimental Dehavilland Vampire MK-3 airplane, N6878D, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of power after departing from Rochester International Airport (ROC), Rochester, New York. The pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that was destined for Genesee County Airport (GVQ), Batavia, New York. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, he departed from ROC, as part of a two-airplane formation enroute to GVQ. As the airplane climbed through 3,500 feet, the pilot heard a noise coming from the engine and initiated a return to ROC. The noise "got louder," and the pilot felt the airplane vibrate during the return. As the airplane was on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 4, the pilot declared an emergency. While on final approach for runway 4, the engine lost total power. The pilot then retracted the landing gear and prepared for a forced landing to the grass adjacent to the runway. During the landing, the airplane struck a berm, substantially damaging the fuselage. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating for airplane multi-engine land. The pilot also held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land and sea, as well as a certified flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single and multi-engine land and instrument airplane. The pilot's most recent FAA first-class medical certificate was issued on March 18, 2008, and the pilot reported 9,000 total hours of flight experience on that date. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The Dehavilland Vampire MK-3 airplane was manufactured in 1947, and powered by a Dehavilland Goblin turbojet engine. The most recent inspection performed on the airplane was a conditional inspection completed on May 17, 2009. At that time, the airplane had accumulated 629 hours of total flight time. At the time of the accident, the engine had accumulated 229 hours of total time since its last overhaul. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The weather reported at ROC, at 1454, included wind from 350 degrees at 8 knots, 10 miles visibility, few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet, temperature 21 degrees C, and dew point 11 degrees C, and altimeter setting of 29.94 inches of mercury. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Examination of the airplane and accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed the airplane struck a berm while landing, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The engine was further examined in a hangar under the supervision of the FAA inspector. The examination revealed the rear bearing in the "hot section" of the turbojet engine exhibited significant scoring and bearing metal fatigue and erosion. The bearing was completely fusedand unable to be rotated. Main shaft damage from the bearing race and impact was evident with the compressed bearing race and surface distortion. Removal of the oil sump revealed the oil quantity was less than 2 tablespoons in the sump, and no oil was observed in the surrounding area of the engine compartment. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6878D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6878D-2014-09-10), registration cancelled 2014-09-10, S/N 17072, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DE HAVILLAND Vampire MK-3 - Registry model: [Dehavilland VAMPIRE MK-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-vampire-mk-3) (registry code 2801512) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17072 - Airframe hours: 629 - Engines: Dehavilland Goblin II 3100 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wings of Flight - Registered owner: Wings of Flight - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 17, 2008 - Departed: ROC, Rochester, NY - Destination: GVQ, Batavia, NY - Airport: ROC, Rochester Intl Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: serious; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 5, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 10,800 total, 5,900 as pilot in command, 230 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: ROC ## 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 20090606010009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090606010009A), Jun 6, 2009: Dhav VAMPIREMK3, Rochester, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 6, 2009, at 1535 EDT, a Dehavilland vampire, N6878D, registered to wings of flight, inc., returned to the Rochester international airport (kroc)… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 16, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73969. 685 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 617 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324304&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Interview (item 2, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324307&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview-Master.PDF - Engine Examination Report (item 3, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331125&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Examination%20Report-Redacted.PDF 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.