# NTSB LAX95LA008: Rey Avid Flyer, N827H, Bakersfield, CA, October 15, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 15, 1994, 10:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: Bakersfield, CA - Location: 35.3733° N, 119.0187° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bakersfield, CA, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3733&lon=-119.0187&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28962 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28962/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA008 ## Probable cause the inadequate maintenance on the engine's liquid cooling system fittings and lines. ## 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 - normal - cooling system,lines - loose (cause) - maintenance,adjustment - inadequate, owner/builder (cause) - cooling system - leak (cause) - powerplant - overtemperature (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - terrain condition - ravine - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ABOUT 45 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT THE INSTRUMENTS WHICH MONITOR THE ENGINES LIQUID COOLING SYSTEM BEGAN TO SHOW A RISE IN TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE. THE PILOT RECALLED THAT THE TEMPERATURE REACHED THE UPPER RED LINE LIMIT AND HE DID NOT FEEL THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD MAKE IT BACK TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT REDUCED THROTTLE AND SET UP FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED BEYOND A BARBED WIRE FENCE AND ROLLED ABOUT 300 FEET BEFORE AN UNSEEN GULLY WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE FAR SIDE OF THE GULLY. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED BY RESPONDING FAA INSPECTORS. THE ENGINE WATER PUMP WAS FOUND TO HAVE A LOOSE FITTING IN THE TOP OF THE PUMP. THE VENT LINE AND FITTING COULD BE TURNED BY SINGLE FINGER PRESSURE. THE WORM DRIVE HOSE CLAMP ON THE VENT LINE EXHIBITED EVIDENCE OF CORROSION AND THE WATER PUMP SHOWED A TRAIL OF DIRT, DUST, AND RUST MIXED WITH ANTI-FREEZE FROM THE TOP OF THE PUMP IN THE AREA OF THE VENT LINE FITTING. ## Factual narrative On October 15, 1994, at 1020 Pacific daylight time, an experimental homebuilt Rey Avid Flyer, N827H, collided with a berm while attempting a precautionary landing in a field near Bakersfield, California. The precautionary landing was precipitated by the engine overheating during cruise. The aircraft was constructed, owned, and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft was destroyed in the collision sequence. The certificated private pilot and his one passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from the Shafter, California, airport on the day of the accident about 0930 hours as a local area personal flight. In a verbal statement to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors, the pilot reported that about 45 minutes into the flight the instruments which monitor the Rotax engines liquid cooling system began to show a rise in temperature and pressure. The pilot recalled that the temperature reached the upper red line limit and he did not feel that the aircraft would make it back to the airport. The pilot reduced throttle and set up for a precautionary landing in a field. The aircraft landed beyond a barbed wire fence and rolled about 300 feet before an unseen gully was encountered. The aircraft collided with the far side of the gully. The airframe and engine were examined by responding FAA inspectors. The engine water pump was found to have a loose fitting in the top of the pump. The vent line and fitting could be turned by single finger pressure. The worm drive hose clamp on the vent line exhibited evidence of corrosion and the water pump showed a trail of dirt, dust, and rust mixed with anti freeze from the top of the pump in the area of the vent line fitting. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N827H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N827H-1995-03-25), registration cancelled 1995-03-25, S/N 827 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: REY AVID FLYER - Registry model: [Rey Roy G AVID FLYER](https://openairdocs.org/model/rey-roy-g-avid-flyer) (registry code 056187S) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 827 - Engines: ROTAX 582UL 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Roy G. Rey - Registered owner: Roy G. Rey - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1994 - Departed: MIT, SHAFTER, CA - Destination: MIT, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 220 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 6 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BFL, 8 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 19941015034919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941015034919A), Oct 15, 1994: Amtr AVIDFLYER, Bakersfield, CA, Destroyed. Overheated engine. Collided with gulley on precautionary landing. Leaking water pump fitting. Dirt and corrosion. ## Other investigations on N827H (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 LAX93LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA164), Apr 5, 1993: Roy Rey Avid Flyer (N827H), Wasco, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: CARBURETOR ICING. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LACK OF A CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL SYSTEM AND THE FRESHLY PLOWED FIELD. 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.