# NTSB LAX08CA033: Senft/Anderson/salmon C-5, N700H, Tucson, AZ, December 6, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 6, 2007, 09:35 local (16:35 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 32.436668, -111.029441 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4367&lon=-111.0294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67214 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67214/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA033 ## Probable cause a total loss of engine power due to the failure of the number 3 articulating rod. ## 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 - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis While in cruise flight, the pilot heard several "pops" with no drops in oil pressure or temperature noted on the gauges. The engine then seized and the propeller stopped turning. When the pilot realized that she was not going to make her destination airport, she began to look for a place to land. Her options were limited by cars and power lines. She eventually was able to locate a road that was flat with no cars or power lines; however, there was natural desert vegetation. After touchdown the left wing struck a tree and the airplane ground looped. The pilot stated that the airplane was a homebuilt replica with a 1929 Wright Whirlwind R540A engine. The engine was inspected and a large hole on the right side of the engine case was found. Investigators also noted that the damage to the other cylinders and connecting rods appear to have been caused when the number 3 articulating rod separated and began running around inside the engine. The engine seized when the number 3 articulating rod bent the number 4 articulating rod and then moved into the bottom of the number 5 cylinder, forcing itself between the bottom of the piston and the master rod. The underlying cause of the number 3 articulating rod's separation was not able to be determined. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, she performed a normal preflight of the airplane. The takeoff was normal, and as the airplane reached 5,500 feet msl, she heard a subtle 'pop.' She checked the oil pressure and temperature; both were normal. The fuel pressure was in the green and she leaned the mixture slightly. As the pilot reached for the mixture control she heard another 'pop.' In the next few seconds, the propeller blades stopped turning and "froze in the horizontal position." She attempted to restart the engine; however, it seemed to her that the starter was functioning, but the propeller would not rotate. She realized that she was not going to make her destination airport, but knew that she had enough altitude, and began to look for a suitable landing site. The first two places she chose had too much traffic, and as she descended she noted power lines. The pilot spotted a road with no cars or power lines and decided to make the emergency landing. As she made the approach, she noted that the road was "very narrow," with flat terrain and a lot of natural desert vegetation. The airplane landed normally; however, on the landing rollout the left wing struck a Palo Verde tree and the airplane ground looped. The pilot stated that the airplane was a homebuilt replica with a 1929 Wright Whirlwind R540A engine. She listed the time on the engine as 27 hours since overhaul; the airplane had 23 hours total time. She also reported that the shoulder restraint system installed saved her life. A National Transportation Safety Board investigator and an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the engine, and noted a large hole on the right side of the engine case. On December 14 and 27, 2007, the FAA inspector assigned to this accident inspected the engine and found the following conditions. The master rod experienced excessive heat in the area of number 2 and 3 knucklepins. Number 3 articulating rod became separated from the master rod and also broke free of the piston above the wrist pin. Damage to the other cylinders and connecting rods appear to have been caused when the number 3 articulating rod began running around inside the engine. The engine seized when the number 3 articulating rod bent the number 4 articulating rod and then moved into the bottom of the number 5 cylinder, forcing itself between the bottom of the piston and the master rod. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N700H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N700H-2022-11-05), registration cancelled 2022-11-05, S/N SAS 001, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Senft/Anderson/salmon C-5 - Registry model: [Senft/Anderson/Salmon C-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/senft-anderson-salmon-c-5) (registry code 05607DQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: SAS 001 - Airframe hours: 23 - Engines: Wright R540A 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: AVQ, MARANA, AZ - Airport: 40E, La Cholla Airpark ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; flight instructor, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 1,836 total, 17 in this make and model, 1,642 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: AVQ, 11 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 20071206829089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071206829089A), Dec 6, 2007: Senfta C5, Oro Valley, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft was on its 23rd hour of phase 1 flight time under a special airworthiness certificate issued 10-12-2007. The aircraft left marana regional… 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.