# NTSB ERA17LA340: Waco UPF 7, N29909, Ocklawaha, FL, September 28, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 28, 2017, 19:21 local (23:21 UTC) - Place: Ocklawaha, FL - Coordinates: 29, -81 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0000&lon=-81.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96111 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA340 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96111/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96111 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA340 ## Probable cause A failure of both magnetos due to multiple deficiencies, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Ignition system: magneto/distributor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414/cases.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=9601302), [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: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot stated that, while maneuvering during the local flight, the engine magneto indicator illuminated and one of the engine's magnetos failed, followed shortly after by the other magneto, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. The pilot landed the airplane in a stand of trees before it nosed over, fell 60 ft to the ground, and came to rest on its nose with the tail section in the air; the airplane sustained damage to the top and bottom wings and the firewall. Postaccident examination of the magnetos revealed that both magnetos had "bad (out of range on impedance)" secondary windings on the coil. The points exhibited a white powder, consistent with the capacitor in the secondary windings of each magneto failing or having failed. Both rotors were cracked, and the pencil springs in both distributor caps were rusted. Damage was also noted to several of the ignition leads (the left magneto had three faulty leads, and the right magneto had one faulty lead). An automotive ignition harness was installed on the magnetos as part of an approved automotive conversion kit; the examination representative indicated that the auto ignition wire has a higher amount of resistance that the magnetos were not designed to handle. Thus, it is likely that some combination of these deficiencies ultimately resulted in the in-flight failure of the magnetos and the subsequent loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On September 28, 2017, about 1921 eastern daylight time, an experimental Waco UPF 7, N29909, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to wooded terrain after a total loss of engine power about 1.5 miles south of the Woods and Lakes Airpark (FA38), near Ocklawaha, Florida. The commercial pilot/owner sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated at the Hobby Hill Airport (2FD1), Weirsdale, Florida, about 1855. The pilot stated that while maneuvering, the engine magneto indicator illuminated and one of the engine's magnetos failed followed shortly after by the other magneto, resulting in a total loss of engine power. He said that he tried to reach FA38, but realized he was not going to make it so he "surfed" the airplane into the treetops. The pilot said he made a successful landing and the airplane came to rest gently in the trees before it nosed over and fell 60 ft to the ground and came to rest on its nose with the tail section sticking straight up in the air. There was damage to the top and bottom wings and the firewall. A friend of the pilot, who was also a pilot and an airframe and powerplant mechanic, heard the airplane fly over his home. He said the airplane's engine hesitated, then stopped, and tried to re-start before it went silent. The friend drove to FA38 and saw that the airplane did not land, so he drove in the direction he last saw the airplane and found it had landed in heavily wooded terrain about a mile from the airport. After calling 911, the friend approached the airplane and later advised the fire department to turn the master switch off to prevent a fire due to the presence of gasoline fumes. The airplane was equipped with an experimental Vedeneyev M14-P radial engine. Examination of the magnetos by M-14P, Inc. in Kingman, Arizona, revealed that both magnetos had "bad (out of range on impedance)" secondary windings on the coil. The points exhibited a white powder, consistent with the capacitor in the secondary windings of each magneto failing or had failed. Both rotors were cracked and the pencil springs in both distributor caps were rusted. Damage was also noted to several of the ignition leads (left magneto had 3 faulty leads, and the right magneto had 1 faulty lead). An automotive ignition harness was installed on the magnetos as part of an approved automotive conversion kit. According to a representative of M14-P, Inc., the auto ignition wire has a higher amount of resistance that the magnetos were not designed to handle. The last engine, airframe, and propeller conditional inspection was conducted on October 13, 2016. At the time of the accident, the airplane, engine, and propeller had accrued a total of 331 since new. The magnetos were installed new and had a total of 331 hours. The pilot held a commercial certificate for airplanesingle-engine land and sea, and instrument airplane. His last Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) second-class medical was issued on October 6, 2016. The pilot reported a total of 2,725 flight hours, of which, 723 hours were in the same make/model as the accident airplane. Weather at The Villages (VVG), The Villages, Florida, about 11 miles south of the accident site, at 1930, was reported as calm wind, visibility 10 miles, and clear skies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29909](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29909), registered now, S/N 5406, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WACO UPF 7 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Waco UPF-7](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-upf-7) (registry code 9601302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5406 - Year built: 1942 - Airframe hours: 4431.2 - Engines: Vedeneyev M-14P 360 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 13, 2016 - Departed: 2FD1, Hobby Hill, FL - Destination: FA38, Oklawaha, FL - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 16, 2016; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,725 total, 723 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: VVG, 11 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 20170928014199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170928014199A), Sep 28, 2017: Waco UPF-7, Oklawaha, FL, Substantial damage. Per pilot statement aircraft magnetos failed and engine lost power. Pilot stated he landed the aircraft in the tree tops, it rest momentarily and fell to the… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96111. 9.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 7.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476306&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - NTSB Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476307&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 208 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476308&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 4, .PDF, 295 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476309&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Photos (item 5, .PDF, 3 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476310&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF - Email from Pilot - Engine Total Time (item 6, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476311&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20from%20Pilot%20-%20Engine%20Total%20Time-Master.PDF - NTSB Summary of Examination - Magneto Testing at M-14P (item 7, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476312&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Summary%20of%20Examination%20-%20Magneto%20Testing%20at%20M-14P-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 8, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476313&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.