# NTSB LAX05LA057: Orr Long-Ez, N321EZ, Yucca Valley, CA, December 31, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 31, 2004, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Yucca Valley, CA - Coordinates: 34.127777, -116.407775 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1278&lon=-116.4078&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 60793 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05LA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60793/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA057 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power due to ignition system failure due to rain water grounding/shorting of the magneto switches. ## 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 - weather condition - rain - window - leak (contributing factor) - electrical system - inadequate, owner/builder - ignition system,ignition switch - shorted (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - wire,transmission ## Analysis The airplane collided with power lines during a forced landing on a road following a total loss of engine power. The pilot entered a mountain pass area east of his destination at 3,500 feet mean sea level, westbound. Due to lowering ceilings, turbulence, and rain, the pilot performed an 180-degree reverse course to the high desert, and another possible route into the Los Angeles basin and his destination. Soon after the course reversal, the pilot noted an engine sound decrease and loss of engine rpm. As he reached the edge of the high desert, the engine shutdown abruptly. He turned toward a nearby airport, and observed a popped circuit breaker for the electronic ignition system. He reset the breaker and the engine went to full power for about 5 or 10 seconds, and then the breaker popped again. He turned off the electronic ignition system to check the redundancy of the left magneto, which was also inoperative. The pilot reported that during the course reversal while in the rain showers, he observed rainwater entering the cockpit and instrument panel area around the magneto switches and electronic ignition circuit breaker. He felt that the source of the ignition failure was due to the shorting of the magneto switch from the rainwater. ## Factual narrative On December 31, 2004, about 1330 Pacific standard time, an experimental Orr Long-EZ, N321EZ, collided with obstacles during a forced landing on a road at Yucca Valley, California. The airplane was being operated by the pilot/owner/builder under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Neither the airline transport pilot nor passenger were injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight originated at Punta Pescadero, Baja, California, about 0930, and was destined for Chino, California. The pilot entered the Banning, California, pass area at 3,500 feet mean sea level, westbound. Due to lowering ceilings, turbulence, and rain, the pilot performed an180-degree reverse course to the high desert, and another possible route into the Los Angeles basin and Chino. Soon after the course reversal, the pilot noted an engine sound decrease and loss of about 2,550 to 2,480 engine rpm. As he reached the edge of the high desert, the engine shutdown abruptly. He turned toward the Yucca Valley airport, and observed a popped circuit breaker on the electronic ignition system. He reset the breaker and the engine went to full power for about 5 or 10 seconds, and then the breaker popped again. He turned off the electronic ignition system to check the redundancy of the left magneto, which was also inoperative. He checked for carburetor ice several times, and switched fuel tanks. The pilot was unable to safely reach the airport runway without risking a short landing in drainage gullies. He chose a road to land on, but noticed a car backing out of a driveway. As he shortened his approach he contacted an Edison power line causing a premature and hard landing. The airplane slid into a Yucca tree. The pilot reported that during the course reversal in the Banning Pass he observed rainwater entering the cockpit and instrument panel area around the magneto switches and electronic ignition circuit breaker. He felt that the source of the ignition failure was due to the shorting of the magneto switch from the rainwater. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N321EZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N321EZ-2005-11-10), registration cancelled 2005-11-10, S/N 1463 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Orr Long-Ez - Registry model: [ORR David A LONG-EZ](https://openairdocs.org/model/orr-david-a-long-ez) (registry code 0569045) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1463 - Airframe hours: 212 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 170 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David A C Orr - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2004, 23 hours before - Departed: Punta Pescadero - Destination: CNO, Chino, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; seat: front; flight hours: 4,339 total, 2,270 in this make and model, 3,838 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 3 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: PSP, 19 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 20041231034319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041231034319A), Dec 31, 2004: Amtr LONGEZ, Yucca Valley, CA, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot reported that the circuit breaker for the engine ignition system had popped. Reset circuit breaker and ten seconds later it had popped again. Pilot… 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.