# NTSB NYC00LA198: Warrington Surrel Guppy, N4425W, Churchville, MD, July 16, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2000, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Churchville, MD - Coordinates: 39.559368, -76.239959 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5594&lon=-76.2400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49701 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA198 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49701/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA198 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Factors in this accident were an open canopy and a decrease in engine power. ## 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 - powerplant - failure,partial (contributing factor) - Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - initial climb - window,canopy - open (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - crop - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent ## Analysis After a normal takeoff and lift-off, the pilot noticed the engine tachometer indicated 2,900 rpm, instead of the normal 3,450 rpm. Additionally, the corner of the airplane's canopy became dislodged. The pilot was unable to secure the canopy, and felt he would have 'no problem making a gentle left turn to land on a parallel runway;' however, during the turn, about 50 feet above the ground, he became 'distracted and stalled' the airplane about 300 feet short of the runway. The airplane was equipped with a 4-cycle Kohler, model CH25S lawn mower engine. A hole was found in the right cylinder rocker box cover, and 'some debris and filings' were observed on the right cylinder exhaust valve. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2000, about 1630 Eastern Daylight Time, a homebuilt Surrel Guppy, N4425W, was substantially damaged after it experienced a loss of engine power during the initial climb after takeoff from the Harford County Airport (OW3), Churchville, Maryland. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane departed Runway 01, a 1,600 foot-long, turf runway. The pilot stated that after a normal acceleration and lift off, he noticed the engine tachometer indicated 2,900 rpm, instead of the normal 3,450 rpm. Additionally, the corner of the airplane's canopy became dislodged. The pilot was unable to secure the canopy and felt he would have "no problem making a gentle left turn to land on a parallel runway;" however, during the turn, about 50 feet above the ground, he became "distracted and stalled" the airplane about 300 feet short of the runway. Examination of the airplane was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The airplane was equipped with a 4-cycle Kohler, model CH25S lawn mower engine. A hole was found in the right cylinder rocker box cover, and "some debris and filings" were observed on the right cylinder exhaust valve. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4425W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4425W-2004-11-05), registration cancelled 2004-11-05, S/N 53, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Warrington SURREL GUPPY (SURREL GUP) - Registry model: [Warrington John Anthony SURREL GUPPY](https://openairdocs.org/model/warrington-john-anthony-surrel-guppy) (registry code 05606HJ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 53 - Airframe hours: 12 - Engines: kohler CH-25 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John A. Warrington - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 0W3 - Airport: 0W3, Harford County, runway 1, 1,600 × 85 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 92 total, 7 in this make and model, 37 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MTN, 20 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 20000716040399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000716040399A), Jul 16, 2000: Amtr SURRELLGUPPY, Churchville, MD, Substantial damage. (.4)On July 16, 2000, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt surrel guppy, N4425W, was substantially damaged after it experienced a loss of engine power… 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.