# NTSB MIA08LA006: Taylorcraft DCO-65, N52730, Fort Myers, FL, October 23, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 23, 2007, 10:48 local (14:48 UTC) - Place: Fort Myers, FL - Coordinates: 26.585277, -81.85778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5853&lon=-81.8578&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 24, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66942 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08LA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66942/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08LA006 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power during approach for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - reason for occurrence undetermined - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - vehicle ## Analysis The pilot stated that while on approach to his home airport, he began his descent for landing. About 800 feet above ground level, he reduced engine power and noticed an extreme vibration from the engine area. He declared an emergency with air traffic control and made a forced landing into a shopping mall parking lot, hitting several cars, damaging both wing spars, the landing gear, and engine. Examination of the airplane revealed a fractured front engine mount bolt. The bolt exhibited features consistent with an overstress failure; however, the investigation could not determine if the bolt failed before or after the engine vibration. No other failures or mechanical anomalies were identified with the accident airplane. ## Factual narrative On October 23, 2007, at 1048 eastern daylight time, a Taylorcraft DCO-65, N52730, collided with several automobiles during a forced landing in a shopping mall parking lot in Fort Myers, Florida. The certificated private pilot, who was the owner of the airplane, reported no injuries, the passenger reported minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from the Page Field Airport (FMY), Fort Myers, Florida, at 0930 the same day. The pilot stated that while on approach to runway 13 at FMY, he began his descent for landing. About 800 feet above ground level, he reduced engine power and noticed an extreme vibration from the engine area. He declared an emergency with air traffic control and made a forced landing into a shopping mall parking lot, hitting several cars, damaging both wing spars, the landing gear, and engine. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector found a fractured front engine mount bolt. The inspector observed that the bolt necked down near the fracture area, consistent with overstress. The inspector further stated that the bolt was located inside the engine mount, and would not be visible for examination during a routine annual inspection. The inspector did not report any additional failures or malfunctions. The airplane was manufactured in 1943. The airplane’s most recent annual inspection was completed about 4 months prior to the accident, and the airplane accumulated approximately 17 hours of operation since that inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N52730](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52730-2010-07-08), registration cancelled 2010-07-08, S/N L-5665, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft DCO-65 - Registry model: [Taylorcraft DCO-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-dco-65) (registry code 8850408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: L-5665 - Airframe hours: 1241 - Engines: Continental C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Douglas Charles Jenkins - Registered owner: Douglas Charles Jenkins - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2007, 17 hours before - Departed: FMY, Ft. Myers, FL - Destination: FMY, Ft. Myers, FL - Airport: FMY, Page Field, runway 13, 4,912 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 1,393 total, 260 in this make and model, 1,201 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 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: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: FMY, 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 20071023824259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071023824259A), Oct 23, 2007: Tcrafk DCO65TCRAFT, Fort Myers, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 23, 2007, at 10:48 EDT, a Taylorcraft, N52730, registered to the pilot [privacy data omitted] collided with automobiles in the parking lot of… 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.