# NTSB ERA17LA338: Parks Richard A Starduster SA 100, N1356W, Southfields, NY, September 15, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 15, 2017, 13:11 local (17:11 UTC) - Place: Southfields, NY - Coordinates: 41.284442, -74.144721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2844&lon=-74.1447&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96103 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA338 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96103/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96103 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA338 ## Probable cause A loose oil line that allowed oil to drip on the exhaust system, which resulted in smoke during cruise flight and a subsequent precautionary landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Eng oil sys (airframe furnish)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057900): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Parks Richard A STARDUSTER SA-100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057900/cases.md?model=8660427), [All aircraft, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057900/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Parks Richard A STARDUSTER SA-100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=8660427), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Parks Richard A STARDUSTER SA-100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=8660427), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Parks Richard A STARDUSTER SA-100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8660427), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Parks Richard A STARDUSTER SA-100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=8660427), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was conducting a cross-country, personal flight. He reported that, while approaching the destination airport at a cruise altitude of 2,500 ft mean sea level, he noticed smoke coming from the engine cowling. Concerned that there was a fire, he decided to immediately land the airplane in an open field. During touchdown, the airplane impacted 5-ft-tall grass and immediately cartwheeled. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that there was a loose oil line fitting at the oil cooler and that oil was dripping on the exhaust system, which likely resulted in the smoke the pilot saw before initiating the precautionary landing. ## Factual narrative On September 15, 2017, about 1311 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Starduster SA100, N1356W, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing near Southfields, New York. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that departed Chester Airport (SNC), Chester, Connecticut, and was destined for Warwick Municipal Airport (N72), Warwick, New York. The airplane was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.According to the pilot, he was flying on a short cross-country flight to N72, when during cruise flight at 2,500 ft mean sea level, he noticed smoke coming from the engine cowling. He was 7 miles from his destination, but decided to land immediately due to a possible fire. He saw an open field that he could land the airplane in; however, during touchdown he noticed the grass was about 5 ft tall. The airplane immediately cartwheeled upon touchdown and came to rest at a 45° nose-down attitude. Once he removed the airplane from the field and back to his residence, he noticed a loose oil line fitting at the oil cooler and oil dripping on the exhaust system. He stated there were no mechanical issues with the airplane other than the oil leak. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane had sustained damage to the landing gear, right upper wing, rudder and vertical stabilizer. He also noticed an oil line that was loose, and observed a large amount of oil in the engine compartment and that oil had been leaking on the exhaust. Review of the maintenance records revealed that the airplane's most recent conditional inspection was completed on February 14, 2017 and it had accumulated 586 total hours of service at that time. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1356W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1356W), registered now, S/N RAP-02 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PARKS RICHARD A STARDUSTER SA 100 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Parks Richard A STARDUSTER SA-100](https://openairdocs.org/model/parks-richard-a-starduster-sa-100) (registry code 8660427) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: RAP-02 - Year built: 1982 - Airframe hours: 610 - Engines: LYCOMING O-290 SERIES 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 14, 2017, 20 hours before - Departed: SNC, CHESTER, CT - Destination: N72, WARWICK, NY - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review May 26, 2016; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 870 total, 21 in this make and model, 810 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KSWF, 13 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 20170915016029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170915016029A), Sep 15, 2017: Parks Richard A STARDUSTER SA-100, Southfields, NY, Substantial damage. On September 15, 2017, at 1312 EST, a starduster SA-100 experimental biplane, N1356W, [privacy data omitted] was enroute from chester airport (ksmc),chester,… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96103. 6.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477250&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477251&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477252&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Pilot Interview Summary (FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 208 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477253&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary%20(FAA)-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 5, .PDF, 580 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477254&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Investigation Photos (item 6, .PDF, 4 photos, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477255&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-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.