# NTSB MKC87DCA03: Burkholder Q-2, N3891P, St Charles, MO, August 8, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: August 8, 1987, 11:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place: St Charles, MO
- Coordinates: 38.790458, -90.510017 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7905&lon=-90.5100&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34260
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC87DCA03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34260/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC87DCA03

## 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, takeoff - initial climb
  - engine assembly,push rod - disengaged (cause)
  - maintenance - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing
  - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DRG TAKEOFF, THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AT AN ESTD ALT OF 50 TO 100 FT AGL & WOULD NOT DEVELOPED ENOUGH POWER TO MAINT FLT. SUBSEQUENTLY, AS THE PLT WAS LNDG IN A SOYBEAN FIELD, THE ACFT FLIPPED OVER & CAME TO REST IN AN UPRIGHT ATTITUDE. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENG REVEALED THE PUSH ROD FOR THE LEFT FORWARD EXHAUST VALVE HAD BECOME DISENGAGED (MIS- ALIGNED) FROM ITS RESPECTIVE ROCKER ARM SOCKET, ALLOWING THE EXHAUST VALVE TO REMAIN IN THE CLOSED POSITION. THE REVMASTER/VW ENG HAD A TOTAL FLT TIME OF 76.5 HRS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3891P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BURKHOLDER Q-2
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 2163
- Airframe hours: 77
- Engines: Revmaster 2100 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: J. William Burkholder
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, December 1, 1986, 77 hours before
- Destination: CPS, CAHOKIA, IL
- Airport: 35Z, St Charles Co, runway 18, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 323 total, 77 in this make and model, 375 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SUS, 19 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 19870808043179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870808043179A), Aug 8, 1987: Amtrqk QUICKIE, St Charles, MO, Substantial damage. Engine lost power on climbout. Crash landed in soybeans off end of runway. An engine exhaust push rod not in socket

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.

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