# NTSB LAX08LA263: Smith Stewart S51D, N51VS, Oxnard, CA, August 9, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 2008, 15:14 local (22:14 UTC) - Place: Oxnard, CA - Coordinates: 34.200832, -119.207221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2008&lon=-119.2072&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68664 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08LA263 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68664/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA263 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith Owen I STEWART S51D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=05608ZB), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith Owen I STEWART S51D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05608ZB), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Smith Owen I STEWART S51D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05608ZB), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Smith Owen I STEWART S51D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05608ZB), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the flight was made at a cruise altitude of 9,500 feet mean sea level (msl). As he neared his destination, he descended to 2,500 feet msl at low power with the mixture enrichened progressively. He entered the traffic pattern for runway 25 on the right base leg as instructed by the tower local controller. After turning final, the pilot increased power and the engine began to run rough. According to the pilot, "the engine was producing little or no power and descent rate was in excess of 2,500 feet per minute." He switched from the right to the left ignition module, which resulted in a momentary increase in power. After a few seconds, the engine again stopped producing power, and he executed an approach to a baseball field. The airplane impacted the chain link fence backstop of the baseball field and then struck a school bus barn. The wing separated from the fuselage. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage of the airplane and reported that the airplane was powered by a Chevrolet V-8 engine. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On August 9, 2008, about 1514 Pacific daylight time, a Smith Stewart S51D, amateur built experimental airplane, N51VS, experienced a loss of engine power while on approach to land at Oxnard Airport, Oxnard, California. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage when it collided with a fence and building. The private pilot, who was the owner and builder of the airplane, received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal cross-country flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from Tehachapi, California, at 1415, with an intended destination of Oxnard. The pilot reported that the flight was made at a cruise altitude of 9,500 feet mean sea level (msl). As he neared his destination, he descended to 2,500 feet msl at low power with the mixture enrichened progressively. He entered the traffic pattern for runway 25 on the right base leg as instructed by the tower local controller. After turning final, the pilot increased power and the engine began to run rough. According to the pilot, "the engine was producing little or no power and descent rate was in excess of 2,500 feet per minute." He switched from the right to the left ignition module, which resulted in a momentary increase in power. After a few seconds, the engine again stopped producing power, and he executed an approach to a baseball field. Oxnard Fire Department personnel reported that the airplane impacted the chain link fence backstop of the baseball field and then struck a school bus barn. The wing separated from the fuselage and fuel was observed leaking from the wing. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage of the airplane and reported that the airplane was powered by a Chevrolet V-8 engine. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51VS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51VS-2011-12-19), registration cancelled 2011-12-19, S/N 162, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Smith Stewart S51D - Registry model: [Smith Owen I STEWART S51D](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-owen-i-stewart-s51d) (registry code 05608ZB) (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: 162 - Airframe hours: 125 - Engines: Chevrolet V-8 495 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 5, 2008 - Departed: TSP, Tehachapi, CA - Destination: OXR, Oxnard, CA - Airport: OXR, Oxnard, runway 25, 5,953 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 28, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 2,400 total, 130 in this make and model, 2,350 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: OXR, 1 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 20080809845539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080809845539A), Aug 9, 2008: STEWARTS51D, Oxnard, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) While on approach to Oxnard Airport runway 26 approximately 1/2 mile from the runway the aircraft engine lost power which caused loss of altitude. Due to… ## Other investigations on N51VS (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX04CA316](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA316), Sep 12, 2004: Smith S-51D (N51VS), Lancaster, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's misjudged landing flare, failure to correct the descent rate, and failure to execute a go-around during an unstablized landing approach. 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.