- Date
- May 21, 2005, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Louisville, MS
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- UNREGC.W. Smith Rans S6 Coyote II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- Case key
- 61572
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Galling of the front piston and cylinder of the Rotax 503 2-stroke engine, consistent with the engine running hot and lean for undetermined reasons, resulting in damage to the airplane during the subsequent forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that during the initial climb, as the aircraft reached an altitude of about 150 to 200 feet, suddenly the engine ceased operating. He said he attempted to perform a 180-degree turn to get back to the runway, but the airplane had insufficient airspeed and altitude remaining, to complete the turn, and the aircraft "pancaked" into the ground. An FAA inspector who responded to the accident scene and conducted a postcrash examination of the aircraft and engine stated that he found that the front piston and cylinder exhibited galling, consistent with the engine having operated hot, and lean.
Factual narrative
On May 21, 2005, about 1400 central daylight time, an unregistered Clinton W. Smith Rans S6 Coyote II experimental/amateur-built aircraft, crashed while attempting to take off from Louisville, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot and one passenger received serious injuries, and the aircraft incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that the passenger was interested in purchasing the aircraft, so he and the passenger spent some time prior to the takeoff taxing the aircraft, so that the passenger could evaluate his potential purchase. As they attempted to take off, during the initial climb, as the aircraft reached an altitude of about 150 to 200 feet, suddenly the engine ceased operating. The pilot said he attempted to perform a 180-degree turn to get back to the runway, but the airplane had insufficient airspeed and altitude remaining, to complete the turn, and the aircraft "pancaked" into the ground, incurring damage.
An FAA inspector responded to the accident scene and conducted a postcrash examination of the aircraft and engine. The inspector stated that during the course of his examination he found that there was continuity throughout the two stroke engine, however when he inspected the pistons and cylinders, he found the front piston and cylinder to be galled, consistent with it having operated hot, and lean.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- C.W. Smith Rans S6 Coyote II
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Airframe hours
- 220
- Engine
- Rotax 503, 50 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Clinton W. Smith
- Departed
- LMS · Louisville, MS
- Destination
- LMS
- Airport
- KLMS · Louisville Winston County, runway 17, 4,519 × 75 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 72
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 1, 2004
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 7,130 total · 6,023 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
- Observed at
- KGTR, 31 nm away