# NTSB NYC04LA192: Waco QCF, N11478, Rhinebeck, NY, August 14, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 14, 2004, 15:40 local (19:40 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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Teterboro FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59910 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA192 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59910/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA192 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to a magneto failure. ## 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 - ignition system,magneto - failure (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis During the initial climb after takeoff, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power, and the pilot elected to perform a forced landing to the grass at the runway overrun. During the landing, the airplane's lower left wing, propeller and left wing were damaged. The pilot reported that the airplane was fueled, and then flew normally for about 25 minutes earlier on the day of the accident. On scene examination of the engine, which included an inspection of intake, exhaust, and fuel system, did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions. A subsequent teardown of the engine did not reveal any catastrophic failures; however, a mechanic reported that bench testing of the magnetos revealed that they both contained open secondary windings. During an interview, the mechanic further stated that the problem with the magnetos was not apparent until they were heated to a temperature of about 130 degrees. ## Factual narrative On August 14, 2004, about 1540 eastern daylight time, a Waco QCF, N11478, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, when it experienced a partial loss of engine power during the initial climb after takeoff from Old Rhinebeck Airport, Rhinebeck, New York. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was departing to the south, on a 2,200-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, turf runway. The pilot reported that the airplane lifted off the runway normally; however, after it had over flown about 3/4 of the runway, the airplane experienced a "dramatic" loss of engine power. The pilot elected to retard the throttle, and perform a forced landing to the grass at the runway overrun. During the landing, the airplane's lower left wing, propeller and left wing were damaged. The pilot reported that the airplane was fueled, and then flew normally for about 25 minutes earlier on the day of the accident. On scene examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions. The examination included an inspection of the intake, exhaust, and fuel system. A subsequent teardown of the engine did not reveal any catastrophic failures; however, a mechanic reported that bench testing of the magnetos revealed that they both contained open secondary windings. During an interview, the mechanic further stated that the problem with the magnetos was not apparent until they were heated to a temperature of about 130 degrees. The airplane was equipped with a Continental W670 engine. According to maintenance records, the engine was overhauled on December 29, 1997. The engine had been operated for about 100 hours at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that the airplane had been operated for about 18 hours since it's most recent annual inspection, which was performed on December 16, 2003. A weather observation taken at an airport located about 24 miles south of the accident site, at 1553, included a temperature and dew point of 79 and 63 degrees F, respectively. Review of a carburetor icing probability chart placed the reported temperature and dew point in the "serious icing at glide power" range of the chart. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11478](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N11478), registered now, S/N 3559, built 1932 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Waco QCF - Registry model: [Waco QCF](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-qcf) (registry code 9600408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3559 - Airframe hours: 3149 - Engines: Continental W670 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel J. Taylor - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2003, 18 hours before - Departed: NY94, Rhinebeck, NY - Airport: NY94, Old Rhinebeck, runway S, 2,200 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 22, 2003; seat: center; flight hours: 631 total, 103 in this make and model, 512 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: POU, 24 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 20040814031069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040814031069A), Aug 14, 2004: Waco QCF, Rhinebeck, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 14, 2004, at approximately 1530 eastern daylight time, a Waco Qcf, N11478 was substantially damaged during a forced landing, after takeoff from… 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.