# NTSB LAX05LA141: Bailey Lowing Loadster, N8058Q, Bakersfield, CA, April 20, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 20, 2005, 11:13 local (18:13 UTC) - Place: Bakersfield, CA - Coordinates: 35.324722, -118.995834 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3247&lon=-118.9958&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61340 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05LA141 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61340/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA141 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## 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, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - building(nonresidential) - object - fence ## Analysis The experimental airplane impacted a fence and a storage facility following a loss of engine power while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. The private pilot, who was the builder of the airplane, indicated he used a Volkswagen engine that he overhauled to power his airplane. According to the pilot, he wanted to break in the overhauled engine with 25 hours of operation in flight, but since the airplane was just built, he had to conduct a lot of high-speed taxi tests and takeoff and landings. Therefore, the pilot believed the engine did not receive an adequate break in. While on the airplane's fourth test flight, the pilot experienced a gradual loss of power while on downwind for the second approach. Post accident examination of the aircraft/engine by the pilot revealed scoring on the pistons, which was the only anomaly noted. The pilot was unable to test the carburetor due to damage sustained in the accident. ## Factual narrative On April 20, 2005, at 1113 Pacific daylight time, a Bailey Lowing Loadster, N8058Q, collided with a fence and storage facility while on final approach for a precautionary landing at Bakersfield Municipal Airport, Bakersfield, California. The experimental airplane was operated by the private pilot/builder under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was seriously injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The local test flight originated at Bakersfield, about 1109. During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that the accident flight was the fourth test flight of the airplane after he completed building it. He utilized a Volkswagen engine that he overhauled himself to power his airplane. According to the pilot/builder, the engine should be "broken in" with 25 hours of flight operations in the air. However, since he had to conduct high-speed taxi tests in the airplane first, the engine was not receiving a proper break in. The pilot took off runway 34 and flew around the pattern once. On the downwind leg for the second approach, the engine began to "shut down" gradually and would not produce adequate power to sustain flight. The pilot attempted to make it to the airport, but clipped the storage facility and fence. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site, witnesses observed the airplane take off from runway 34 and mush around to the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern. The airplane did not obtain any significant altitude and it appeared to the witnesses as though the pilot was attempting to return to runway 34. While in the turn back toward the runway, one of the wings clipped a building (the storage facility). The pilot was transported to a local hospital. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both of the wings, the forward fuselage, the lower portion of the engine, and the propeller. The pilot did not install shoulder harnesses in the airplane. Following the accident, the pilot's family moved the airplane back to the pilot's property. Post accident discussions with the pilot revealed he examined the airplane following the accident and found no additional anomalies with the airplane and believed the engine just didn't get an adequate break in. He based this on the fact that he found the pistons scored. The pilot was unable to test the carburetor due to damage sustained in the accident. The pilot was also a mechanic for 50+ years and was previously nominated for the Charles Taylor master mechanic award. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8058Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8058Q-2007-09-21), registration cancelled 2007-09-21, S/N 1 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bailey Lowing Loadster - Registry model: [Bailey Douglas LOWING LOADSTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/bailey-douglas-lowing-loadster) (registry code 056170A) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 1 - Engines: Volkswagen Type II 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Registered owner: Douglas W. Bailey - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 1, 2005, 1 hours before - Departed: KL45, Bakersfield, CA - Airport: L45, Bakersfield, runway 34, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 85; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review April 1, 2005; seat: center; flight hours: 500 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KBFL ## 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 20050420007529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050420007529A), Apr 20, 2005: LOWINGLOADST, Bakersfield, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On the upwind leg of the second time around the traffic pattern, the aircraft lost altitude. The pilot states that he felt the engine was losing power.… 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.