# NTSB NYC04LA201: PZL 101, N123LZ, Chazy, NY, August 31, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 2004, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Chazy, NY - Coordinates: 44.506942, -73.449996 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5069&lon=-73.4500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60077 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA201 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60077/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA201 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to the fractured crankshaft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - engine assembly,crankshaft - fractured (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis Approximately 20 minutes after takeoff, the engine "locked up" without warning. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field, and during the landing, the airplane impacted a ditch, substantially damaging the airplane. Examination of the radial engine revealed that the crankshaft was fractured. Additionally, as the propeller was rotated, an "audible crunching sound" was heard from the accessory gearbox. Fuel was observed in both fuel tanks and fuel continuity was confirmed to the engine. The oil sump was empty; however, a significant amount of oil was observed under the engine. Additionally, the oil tank was ruptured, and the amount of oil could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 2004, at 1030 eastern daylight time, N123LZ, an experimental PZL 101 airplane, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a loss of power near Chazy, New York. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight which originated at a private airstrip in Swanton, Vermont, and was destined for the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport (SRB), Sparta, Tennessee. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that approximately 20 minutes after takeoff, the engine "locked up" without warning. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field, and during the landing, the airplane impacted a ditch, substantially damaging the airplane. Examination of the radial engine by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the crankshaft was fractured. Additionally, as the inspector rotated the propeller, an "audible crunching sound" was heard from the accessory gearbox. Fuel was observed in both fuel tanks and fuel continuity was confirmed to the engine. The oil sump was empty; however, a significant amount of oil was observed under the engine. Additionally, the oil tank was ruptured, and the amount of oil could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N123LZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N123LZ-2017-06-07), registration cancelled 2017-06-07, S/N 119265, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PZL 101 - Registry model: [PZL 101](https://openairdocs.org/model/pzl-101) (registry code 05617IM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 119-265 - Airframe hours: 1420 - Engines: PZL AI-14R 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert Langford - Registered owner: Bill Austin - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2004, 6 hours before - Departed: NONE, Swanton, VT - Destination: SRB, Sparta, TN - Airport: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 1 in this make and model, 7,900 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: PLB, 12 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 20040831022119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040831022119A), Aug 31, 2004: Pzlwar PZL101, Chazy, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) While in flight from franklin county state airport located in highgate VT (fso) to upper cumberland regional airport in sparta TN (srb) the aircraft had… 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.