# NTSB ERA18TA222: Globe GC1B, N80932, Wellington, FL, August 17, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report - Date: August 17, 2018, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Wellington, FL - Coordinates: 26.646667, -80.294998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.6467&lon=-80.2950&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 27, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98101 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18TA222 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98101/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98101 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18TA222 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power during the initial climb due to a sticking intake valve on the No. 3 cylinder. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Globe GC-1B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=9230104), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Globe GC-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=9230104), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Globe GC-1B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=9230104), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Globe GC-1B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=9230104), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Globe GC-1B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=9230104), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Globe GC-1B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=9230104), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Globe GC-1B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=9230104), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the airplane's initial climb in crosswind conditions for the personal flight, the engine experienced a partial loss of power, and the airline transport pilot reported that the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall. He attempted to lower the nose of the airplane, but with insufficient altitude, the airplane impacted a ditch parallel to the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Examination of the airplane revealed that the engine's No. 3 cylinder had low compression, and the No. 3 intake valve had hardened carbon deposit buildup on its stem. After the valve was cleaned and reinstalled, the engine compression returned to the normal range. It is likely that, during the initial climb, the intake valve stuck intermittently due to the carbon deposit buildup, which resulted in the partial loss of engine power and the airplane's inability to climb. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 2018, about 1600 eastern daylight time, a Globe GC-1B, N80932, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after a partial loss of engine power during the initial climb at the Wellington Aero Club Airport (FD38), Wellington, Florida. The airline transport pilot sustained serious injuries and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a personal flight conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. According to the pilot, during the preflight inspection he noticed a wind from the east about 5 knots, gusting to 9 knots. He taxied to runway 16, performed a runup that did not produce any abnormalities, and began the takeoff roll. During the ground roll, the pilot reported that he noticed a "slower acceleration" and had to use "more right brake to maintain directional control." Subsequently, the airplane lifted off and about 50 ft above ground level (agl), the airplane experienced a "hard yaw to the left due to a crosswind" and "[aerodynamic] stall indications." The pilot reduced the pitch, and the airplane impacted a ditch parallel to the runway. The fuselage and wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that the engine experienced a partial loss of power during the takeoff. Postaccident examination of the airplane by an airframe and powerplant mechanic, found that during an engine compression test, each cylinder was found to be in a normal range, with exception to the number 3 cylinder, which measured 10/80. Further examination of the cylinder's intake valve exhibited hardened carbon deposit buildup on the valve stem. The intake valve was cleaned and reinstalled, where the number 3 cylinder's compression was measured at 78/80. There were no other anomalies found with any other engine component. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records, the pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating for airplane multi-engine land and a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and sea. He was issued a first-class medical certificate in July 2017. The pilot reported 22,937 total flight hours and 50 hours in the accident make and model airplane. According to the FAA airworthiness records, the airplane was powered by a Continental O-300-A, 145-horsepower engine. It was equipped with retractable landing gear in the tailwheel configuration and had 2-seats. The most recent annual inspection was completed in February 2018. The weather conditions reported at 1553 at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), West Palm Beach, Florida, about 11 miles east of FD38, included wind 080° at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 3,000 ft agl, temperature 31°C, and dew point 24°C. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80932](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N80932), registered now, S/N 1125 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Globe GC1B - Registry model: [Globe GC-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/globe-gc-1b) (registry code 9230104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C125 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c125-series) (registry code 17011, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1125 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 1650 - Engines: Continental O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 25, 2018 - Departed: FD38, Wellington, FL - Destination: FD38, Wellington, FL - Airport: FD38, Wellington Aero Club, runway 16, 4,055 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: serious; airline transport, commercial, military, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 15, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 22,937 total, 50 in this make and model, 14,000 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KPBI, 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 20180817014379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180817014379A), Aug 17, 2018: Globe GC-1B, Wellington, FL, Substantial damage. Part 91 operator, operated and owned by [privacy data omitted] from Wellington Florida. Pilot and passenger taking off form Wellington Aero Club Airport (FD38)… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 25, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98101. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472163&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - NTSB MFR Airplane Examination (item 2, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472164&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20MFR%20Airplane%20Examination-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 656 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472165&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.