# NTSB ERA14LA360: Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, N59418, Newnan, GA, July 26, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 26, 2014, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Newnan, GA - Coordinates: 33.466667, -84.865554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4667&lon=-84.8656&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report December 14, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89743 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14LA360 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89743/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89743 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA360 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance; cases with it: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7830502), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that the accident flight was the airplane's first flight following an annual inspection. The private pilot and passenger departed on the personal flight and flew about 35 nautical miles to a private airstrip. A witness reported seeing the airplane conduct a low pass over the runway and then enter a climb. As the airplane climbed through about 200 ft above ground level, the engine experienced a sudden loss of power, and the airplane subsequently descended into trees. Video footage from the witness's cell phone corroborated his statement. Postaccident examination revealed that the engine turned freely by hand when the propeller was rotated, and compression was established on the Nos. 1, 4, and 5 cylinders. No compression was established on the Nos. 2 and 3 cylinders. The No. 3 cylinder was impact-damaged. Examination of the No. 2 cylinder revealed an improperly adjusted intake valve set screw, which prevented the intake valve from closing completely. The No. 2 cylinder set screw was readjusted, and the intake valve subsequently closed normally, and compression was established. However, if the set screw had been set improperly before the flight, the engine problem should have been present throughout the flight rather than developing later in the flight; therefore, the effect of the improperly set screw on the engine performance could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 2014, about 1545 eastern daylight time, a Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, N59418, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain following a total loss of engine power while maneuvering near Panther Creek Airport (17GA), Newnan, Georgia. The private pilot and passenger were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed Cobb County International Airport-McCollum Field (RYY), Atlanta, Georgia, at an unknown time. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. A witness stated that the pilot was conducting a "low pass" when the accident occurred. Video footage of the accident obtained from the witness's cell phone showed the accident airplane flying over the runway at 17GA. As it neared the end of the runway and began to climb, a sudden loss of engine power could be heard, and the airplane subsequently descended into the trees from an altitude about 200 feet above ground level. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, instrument airplane, rotorcraft – helicopter, and glider. His most recent FAA first-class medical certificate was issued in August 2012. His most recent flight review was conducted in April 2014. Neither the pilot's total flight time, nor his time in the accident airplane, was determined. The airplane was manufactured in 1942 and registered to the pilot in 1989. It was equipped with a Kinner R5 series, 160-hp, reciprocating, radial engine. The most recent annual inspection, the first since 1996, was completed on June 1, 2014. The accident flight was the first flight after the inspection. The 1555 weather observation at Newnan Coweta County Airport (CCO), located about 10 miles southeast of the accident site, included scattered clouds at 4,500 ft, wind from 260° at 7 knots, temperature 32° C, dew point 22° C, and an altimeter setting of 30.05 inches of mercury. Postaccident examination revealed that both left and right wing fuel tanks had been breached during the accident and contained no fuel. The throttle and mixture controls were found in a mid-range position. The fuel selector was on the "both" position. The wooden propeller hub remained attached to the crankshaft. Both blades were splintered; one blade was separated. The engine turned freely when the propeller was rotated by hand. One spark plug was removed from each of the 5 cylinders, and the plugs exhibited normal wear. Cylinder compression was established using the thumb method on the No. 1, 4, and 5 cylinders. The No. 3 cylinder was impact-damaged. The No. 2 cylinder was intact and undamaged. The valve covers were removed, and it was observed that as the engine was rotated, the intake valve failed to completely close. The valve set screw was observed in an excessively tight position; after readjusting the screw, the intake valve subsequently closed normally and compression wasestablished on the No. 2 cylinder. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N59418](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59418-2018-03-27), registration cancelled 2018-03-27, S/N 2168, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RYAN AERONAUTICAL ST3KR - Registry model: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR](https://openairdocs.org/model/ryan-aeronautical-st3kr) (registry code 7830502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Kinner R5 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/kinner-r5-series) (registry code 37504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2168 - Year built: 1942 - Airframe hours: 1800 - Engines: KINNER R5 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2014, 1 hours before - Departed: RYY, Atlanta, GA - Destination: 17GA, Newnan, GA - Airport: 17GA, Panther Creek Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: CCO, 10 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 20140726014919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140726014919A), Jul 26, 2014: Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, Newnan, GA, Destroyed. The pilot operating the aircraft was attempting a fly by manuver at a private airfield. As the aircraft approached the end of the runway, the engine misfired… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89743. 400 KB in all. - NTSB Memorandum of Record (item 1, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457302&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Memorandum%20of%20Record-Master.PDF - Maintenance Log Entry (item 2, .PDF, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457303&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Log%20Entry-Master.PDF - Accident Video (item 3, .PDF, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457304&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Video-Master.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.