- Date
- September 29, 1991, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place
- Chester, CT
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N158YDavis D1K
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 5, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910929048189A
- Case key
- 37022
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Improper maintenance on the engine which resulted in a power loss due to a stuck exhaust valve and subsequent forced landing in unsuitable terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot departed with a glider in tow and lost power. He cut away the glider which landed with minor damage and landed the airplane in a wooded area. Examination of the engine revealed it was being operated with auto gas without an STC. A compression check that meets FAA specifications had not been conducted on the engine since 1963, and carbon like combustion deposits had built up on the exhaust valve in the number 3 cylinder, keeping the exhaust valve from closing. The airplane and engine were 6 hours out of an annual inspection.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N158Y
- Reported as
- Davis D1K
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 508
- Airframe hours
- 2,300
- Engine
- Continental C-125, 125 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Richard S. Patenaude
- Registered owner
- Richard S. Patenaude
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 26, 1991 · 15 hours before
- Destination
- 4B9 · Simsbury, CT
- Airport
- 3B9 · Chester, runway 17, 2,566 × 50 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 973 total · 219 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N158Y · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.