# NTSB LAX07LA011: Morrisey 2150A, N5114V, Chandler, AZ, October 18, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 18, 2006, 09:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Chandler, AZ - Coordinates: 33.2988888888889, -111.915555555556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2989&lon=-111.9156&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 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Scottsdale Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 64727 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64727/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07LA011 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power during cruise flight due to a crack in the oil cooler and subsequent loss of engine oil. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal - lubricating system,oil cooler - cracked (cause) - fluid,oil - loss,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis According to the pilot-rated passenger, who was the registered owner of the airplane, shortly after departure one of the pilots smelled "something kind of funny." The commercial pilot noticed that the oil pressure indicator was not registering any pressure, so he instructed the pilot-rated passenger to monitor the oil temperature gauge. Both pilots began scanning the surrounding terrain in case of a forced landing. The engine then began to "buck" and then lost power. The commercial pilot declared an emergency to air traffic control and informed them that they were making a forced landing. The airplane touched down in rough terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site reported that engine oil was present on the left side of the cowling, over the left wing, and down the belly of the airplane. He opened the cowling and noted that the oil dipstick was in place and the oil filter remained secured to the engine. The aircraft engine was inspected by a National Transportation Saftey Board investigator, who discoved that oil was dripping from the base of the oil cooler. Closer examination of the oil cooler revealed a bulge in the metal between the fifth and sixth base cap. In the bulged area there was a .4 centimeter crack in the metal, through which oil was leaking out. ## Factual narrative On October 18, 2006, at 0950 mountain standard time, a Morrisey (Varga) 2150A airplane, N5114V, impacted terrain during a forced landing near the Stellar Airpark, Chandler, Arizona. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. The pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The local flight originated from the Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD) about 15 minutes prior to the accident and was destined for the Stellar Airpark (P19). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed for the flight. According to the pilot-rated passenger, who was the registered owner of the airplane, the aircraft had departed CHD when one of the pilots smelled "something kind of funny." The commercial pilot noticed that the oil pressure indicator was not registering any pressure, so he instructed the pilot-rated passenger to monitor the oil temperature gauge. Both pilots began scanning the surrounding terrain in case of a forced landing. The engine then began to "buck" and then lost power. The commercial pilot declared an emergency to CHD's air traffic control tower and informed them that they were making a forced landing near P19. The airplane touched down in rough terrain short of runway 35, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site reported that engine oil was present on the left side of the cowling, over the left wing, and down the belly of the airplane. He opened the cowling and noted that the oil dipstick was in place and the oil filter remained secured to the engine. The aircraft engine was inspected by a National Transportation Saftey Board investigator, who discoved that oil was dripping from the base of the oil cooler. Closer examination of the oil cooler revealed a bulge in the metal between the fifth and sixth base cap. In the bulged area there was a .4 centimeter crack in the metal, through which oil was leaking out. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5114V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5114V-2008-05-20), registration cancelled 2008-05-20, S/N SP14, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Morrisey 2150A - Registry model: [Morrisey 2150A](https://openairdocs.org/model/morrisey-2150a) (registry code 5940204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: SP14 - Airframe hours: 2629.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2C 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Anthony Jobusch - Registered owner: Shirley M. Damotta - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2007, 9.5 hours before - Departed: CHD, Chandler, AZ - Destination: P19, Chandler, AZ - Airport: Off Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2006; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,383 total, 80 in this make and model, 2,295 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2005; seat: front; flight hours: 232 total, 48 in this make and model, 100 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: CHD, 6 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 20061018022559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061018022559A), Oct 18, 2006: Varga 2150AMORISY, Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot and pax performed the pre-flight check. The oil was visually inspected at 7 quarts prior to flight. After departure from kchd, the pilot stated… 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.