# NTSB LAX02LA249: Arns Spacewalker II, N185MD, Irvine, CA, August 10, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 10, 2002, 11:09 local (18:09 UTC) - Place: Irvine, CA - Coordinates: 33.766666, -117.716667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7667&lon=-117.7167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55449 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA249 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55449/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55449 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA249 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power due to an exhaust system leak and vapor lock. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal - exhaust system,stack - cracked (cause) - fluid,fuel - vapor lock (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - pole ## Analysis Engine power was lost during cruise flight, and the aircraft collided with obstacles during a forced landing in a parking area. An examination of the experimental airplane revealed a crack in the left exhaust stack. Hot exhaust gas likely flowed over a fuel line and the carburetor resulting in vapor lock. ## Factual narrative On August 10, 2002, about 1109 Pacific daylight time, a Matthew E. Arns Spacewalker II, N185MD, experienced a partial loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot made a forced landing in a dirt parking area near the Santiago Reservoir, Irvine, California. During the landing rollout, the experimental airplane collided with poles. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated by the pilot on a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the local area flight that originated from Chino, California, about 1030. The pilot subsequently reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he examined his airplane and observed that the left exhaust stack had cracked at a weld. The pilot opined that vapor lock occurred when the hot engine exhaust gas flowed over a fuel line and the gascolator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N185MD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N185MD-2007-09-05), registration cancelled 2007-09-05, S/N SW1996-1, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Arns Spacewalker II - Registry model: [Arns Matthew E SPACEWALKER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/arns-matthew-e-spacewalker-ii) (registry code 05602G6) (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: SW1996-1 - Airframe hours: 132 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Matthew E. Arns - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 28, 2001, 9 hours before - Departed: CNO, CHINO, CA - Destination: CNO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 14, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 550 total, 125 in this make and model, 473 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: SNA, 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 20020810020029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020810020029A), Aug 10, 2002: Tustin, CA, No damage. (-23) After takeoff from chino airport and over irvine lake, the owner/operator indicated that the exhaust noise level seemed high, and when full power was… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 2, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55449. 262 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 262 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469748&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.