# NTSB MIA99LA228: William John Schulz WJS Jaybird, N735BS, Tangerine, FL, August 10, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 10, 1999, 14:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: Tangerine, FL - Location: 28.7602° N, 81.6380° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tangerine, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7602&lon=-81.6380&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47148 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA228 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47148/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA228 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper torqueing of a rocker arm adjusting jam nut, that resulted in the adjuster loosening, and a partial loss of engine power. This resulted in the pilot making an off airport precautionary landing and subsequent nose over, during which the aircraft received substantial damage. ## 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 - engine assembly,rocker arm/tappet - undertorqued (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - engine assembly,rocker arm/tappet - loose part/bolt/nut/clamp/etc - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - recovery from bounced landing - not attained, pilot in command - landing gear,main gear - bent - Nose over, landing ## Analysis The pilot stated he was enroute to Mid Florida Airport, Eustis, Florida, when a partial power loss and the inability to hold altitude necessitated a precautionary landing. The pilot said he executed a landing with a left quartering tailwind due to utility lines and trees blocking an approach into the wind. The aircraft bounced, and on the second bounce the right landing gear bent and the wind lifted the left wing. The aircraft slid, and slowly nosed over, coming to rest upside down, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. According to the pilot, the reason for engine power loss was due to insufficient torque on the jam nut exhaust valve adjuster (rocker arm) to number 4 cylinder. ## Factual narrative On August 10, 1999, about 1420 eastern daylight time, a William John Schulz WJS Jaybird, N735BS, registered to a private owner, operated as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed while attempting a precautionary landing in an open field in Tangerine, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the private-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Bob White Field, Zellwood, Florida, about 1400, the same day. The pilot stated that he was en route to Mid Florida Airport, Eustis, Florida, when a partial power loss and the inability to hold altitude necessitated a precautionary landing on a mowed lawn. The pilot said he executed a landing with a left quartering tailwind, due to utility lines and trees blocking an approach into the wind. The aircraft bounced, and on the second bounce the right landing gear bent and the wind lifted the left wing. The aircraft slid, and slowly nosed over, coming to rest upside down. The pilot further stated that the reason for engine power loss was due to his improper maintenance/installation by not having sufficient torque on the jam nut exhaust valve adjuster (rocker arm) to number 4 cylinder. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N735BS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N735BS), registered now, S/N 001, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: William John Schulz WJS JAYBIRD (WJS JAYBIR) - Registry model: [Schulz William John WJS JAYBIRD](https://openairdocs.org/model/schulz-william-john-wjs-jaybird) (registry code 05606WK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Airframe hours: 5 - Engines: Volkswagen TYPE 1 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William John Schulz - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: X61, ZELLWOOD, FL - Destination: X55, EUSTIS, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 212 total, 3 in this make and model, 155 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 11 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MCO, 27 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 19990810041459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990810041459A), Aug 10, 1999: Amtr WJSJAYBIRD, Tangerine, FL, Substantial damage. (.4) The pilot stated he was enroute to mid Florida airport, eustis, Florida, when a partial power loss and the inability to hold altitude necessitated a… 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.