# NTSB MIA99LA079: Wolf Seawind 3000, N76SW, Bradenton, FL, February 11, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 11, 1999, 16:10 local (21:10 UTC) - Place: Bradenton, FL - Location: 27.4898° N, 82.5768° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bradenton, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4898&lon=-82.5768&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45744 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45744/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA079 ## Probable cause Total loss of engine power due to a burned piston for undetermined reasons resulting in a forced landing to unsuitable terrain and the subsequent crash landing onto a golf course. ## 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, climb - to cruise - engine assembly,piston - burned (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - none suitable - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot reported that during departure climb at 400 feet agl, his engine lost power and rpm decayed rapidly. His first inclination was to turn the amphibian toward a lake, but the power decay was too rapid, and he chose a golf course, instead. He was forced to make a late correction to his intended touchdown point due to golfers, and made a gear and flaps up, hard touchdown sustaining damage to the airplane. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed No. 2 piston had a hole burned completely through its skirt and top, and the nose crankshaft seal was blown out, allowing lubricating oil to escape overboard. ## Factual narrative On February 11, 1999, about 1610 eastern standard time, an experimental Wolf Seawind 3000, N76SW, registered to Visions Unlimited, LLC., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed in the vicinity of Bradenton, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The amphibian aircraft was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight was originating from Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport at the time of the accident. According to FAA Sarasota/Bradenton Control Tower (SRQ) personnel, N76SW departed about 1605, for Charleston Executive Airport, South Carolina, requesting flight following, and had just been handed off to FAA Tampa Approach Control Radar when the accident occurred. According to the Manatee County Sheriff's Department, an eyewitness observed smoke streaming from the engine just before the crash. A stream of engine oil from the engine cowling to the tail was found on the wreckage by sheriff's department personnel. According to the pilot, as he was departing SRQ and completing his turn on course to Charleston, South Carolina, at an altitude of about 400 feet agl, and an indicated airspeed of 110 mph, he began to lose engine power. He initially turned the amphibian toward a lake, but realized his only option was a golf course. During his emergency landing approach, he had to quickly change his planned point of touchdown due to the emergence of golfers into his view, and made a hard touchdown with gear and flaps up. The airplane came to rest against the side of a model home on the golf course, sustaining damage to the hull and wings. Subsequent disassembly examination of the engine by FAA inspectors revealed that the engine sustained catastrophic internal failure. Very little lubricating oil was found in the crankcase, and the source of overboard leakage appeared to be from the crankshaft nose seal found dislodged from its seat. The No. 2 piston was found burned in the area of the oil control ring land. The burned area measured about 1 inch in diameter, was burned completely through, and extended to the top of the piston. The No. 2 connecting rod was loose on the crankshaft journal and removal revealed a severely burned and worn bearing and journal. The other journals also showed overheat evidence. The crankcase contained an amount of pelletized metal pieces and flakes. The No. 1 fuel injector was found partially clogged and the No. 2 spark plugs were oil-fouled. Postaccident, No. 2 piston oil control ring to oil control ring land gap measurements could not be determined because of damage, however, according to the FAA inspector, the location of the piston burn area, burn marks on the cylinder wall, and oil-fouled spark plugs indicated that piston oil control ring gap was excessive and combustion chamber to crankcase blow-by was occurring. The engine had undergone a field overhaul on February 18, 1994, and had 330 hours on the engine since that time. New pistons, piston rings, bearings, and exhaust valves were installed at that time. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N76SW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N76SW-1999-07-27), registration cancelled 1999-07-27, S/N 008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WOLF SEAWIND 3000 (SEAWIND 30) - Registry model: [Wolf Donald SEAWIND](https://openairdocs.org/model/wolf-donald-seawind) (registry code 05628SB) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 008 - Airframe hours: 330 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540K 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Donald G. Wolf - Registered owner: Vision Unlimited, LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 1998, 108 hours before - Departed: SRQ, SARASOTA, FL - Destination: JZI, CHARLESTON EX, SC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,089 total, 203 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SRQ, 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 19990211001289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990211001289A), Feb 11, 1999: Amtr SEAWIND3000, Bradenton, FL, Substantial damage. Acft engine quit, and the acft crash-landed at the river club golf center. Other circumstances are unknown. (.19) on February 11, 1999, about 1610 eastern… 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.