- Date
- June 15, 1995, 09:20 local (14:20 UTC)
- Place
- Jennings, LA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N7070UWSK PZL Mielec M-18 Dromader
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950615049319A
- Case key
- 19455
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The partial power loss for an undetermined reason. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During a climbing left turn, a part of the engine departed the airplane. The pilot made a decision to return to the airport; however, the engine lost power and the pilot executed a forced landing. During the landing roll, the main gear separated when the airplane struck a dike. An FAA inspector examined the wreckage, portions of which were submerged in water, but was unable to determine that a part came off the engine or what may have caused the reported loss of engine power.
Factual narrative
On June 15, 1995, at 0920 central daylight time, a WSK PZL MIELEC, M-18 Dromader, N7070U, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Jennings, Louisiana. The commercial pilot did not receive injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight operated by Riceland Aviation Inc., under Title 14 CFR Part 137. The flight originated at 0915 and a flight plan was not filed.
During interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot and operator reported the following information. The flight departed runway 31 at the Jennings Airport and during a left climbing turn a part of the engine departed the airplane. The pilot made a decision to return to the airport; however, "engine power would not respond to an increase of the throttle," and the pilot heard "a big popping sound" as the engine lost power.
During the landing roll in a rice field with standing water, the main gear separated when the airplane struck a dike. The airplane came to rest approximately 90 degrees to the direction of landing and about 30 yards from the dike.
The FAA inspector examined the airplane and reported damage to the wings, empennage, engine, propeller, and tail wheel assembly. Portions of the airplane were submerged in the water and mud. The reason for the power loss could not be determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7070U
- Reported as
- WSK PZL Mielec M-18 Dromader (M-18 DROMA)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1Z009-20
- Airframe hours
- 3,666
- Engine
- PZL-Kalisz ASZ-621R/16, 942 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Riceland Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 19, 1995 · 519 hours before
- Departed
- 3R7
- Airport
- 3R7 · Jennings, runway 31, 3,598 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 16,000 total · 1,600 in this make and model · 600 in the last 90 days · 200 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 45° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.