# NTSB NYC89DHM06: Maxair XP-503 Drifter, N13WR, Warwick, NY, September 17, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: September 17, 1989, 12:05 local (16:05 UTC)
- Place: Warwick, NY
- Coordinates: 41.250106, -74.35009 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2501&lon=-74.3501&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 September 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36245
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89DHM06
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36245/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89DHM06

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF AN ENGINE PISTON WRIST PIN BEARING.

## 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, takeoff - initial climb
  - engine assembly,bearing - failure,total (cause)
  - engine assembly,piston - seized
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - aircraft parked/standing

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE TOOK OFF ON RUNWAY 21, AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE NORMAL UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF 150 TO 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD STARTED A LEFT TURN TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY AND LAND WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED ITS LEFT TURN AS IT MADE THE EMERGENCY DESCENT AND COLLIDED WITH AN AIRCRAFT PARKED ON AIRPORT PROPERTY. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A WRIST PIN BEARING HAD FAILED, WHICH RESULTED IN THE PISTON SEIZING AND THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N13WR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N13WR-1992-11-18), registration cancelled 1992-11-18, S/N 0006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAXAIR XP-503 DRIFTER (XP-503 DRI)
- Registry model: [Rechsteiner Walter MAXAIR DRIFTER XP503](https://openairdocs.org/model/rechsteiner-walter-maxair-drifter-xp503) (registry code 05644SF) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0006
- Airframe hours: 130
- Engines: ROTAX 503 46 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Walter J. Rechsteiner
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 1989, 5 hours before
- Departed: N-72, WARWICK, NY
- Airport: N72, Warwick

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,000 total, 30 in this make and model, 1,900 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SWF, 17 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 19890917035039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890917035039A), Sep 17, 1989: Amtr DRIFTER, Warwick, NY, Destroyed. Lost part power on climbout. Turned back engine quit. Collided with parked aircraft. Wrist pin bearing. Engine seiz

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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