# NTSB NYC03LA119: Palen Avro-504K, N4929, Rhinebeck, NY, June 4, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 2003, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Rhinebeck, NY - Coordinates: 41.971389, -73.862777 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9714&lon=-73.8628&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-25 - NTSB case key (mKey): 57131 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57131/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA119 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during the initial climb for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis During the initial climb, about 50 feet agl, the engine began to slowly lose power. The pilot attempted to fly a traffic pattern back to the runway, but on a crosswind leg, the engine lost all power. He then performed a forced landing to a parking lot and impacted terrain. The airplane was powered by a Le Rhone Type J, nine-cylinder rotary engine; which was manufactured about 1914. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector did not reveal pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. However, the inspector was unable to rotate the propeller due to cylinder impact damage. Fuel remained in the airplane, and was absent of debris. ## Factual narrative On June 4, 2003, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Avro-504K, N4929, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a loss of engine power after takeoff from Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome (NY94), Rhinebeck, New York. The certificated commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that during the initial climb from the north runway, about 50 feet agl, the engine began to slowly lose power. The pilot attempted to fly a traffic pattern back to the runway, but on a crosswind leg, the engine lost all power. He then performed a forced landing to a parking lot. During the landing, the left wing and engine struck the ground. The pilot further stated that the airplane was powered by a Le Rhone Type J, nine-cylinder rotary engine. The engine was manufactured about 1914. An initial examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did not reveal pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. However, the inspector was unable to rotate the propeller due to cylinder impact damage. He recovered a fuel sample of the 100LL/Mogas combination from the wreckage. The fuel was clear and absent of visible contamination. The inspector added that two mixture controls were used to control rpm, but there was no placarded data for the position of the controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4929](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4929), registered now, S/N HAC1, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Palen Avro-504K - Registry model: [Palen AVRO-504K](https://openairdocs.org/model/palen-avro-504k) (registry code 0562131) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lerhone TYPE C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lerhone-type-c) (registry code 40001, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: HAC1 - Airframe hours: 188 - Engines: Le Rhone Type J 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 17, 2002, 3 hours before - Departed: NY94, Rhinebeck, NY - Airport: NY94, Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, runway N, 2,200 × 75 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 6, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 4,614 total, 35 in this make and model, 4,479 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: POU, 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 20030604030289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030604030289A), Jun 4, 2003: Amtr AVRO504K, Rhinebeck, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) Engine began losing power after take off and failed during climb. Pilot attempted to maneuver back to the runway, but could not make the runway due to… ## Other investigations on N4929 (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA10LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA021), Oct 17, 2009: Palen AVRO-504K (N4929), Rhinebeck, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the in-flight separation of the number 3 cylinder valve rocker arm attachment hardware. Contributing to the accident was the improper maintenance inspection of the… 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.