# NTSB NYC93LA141: Gera Nieuport II, N44030, Somerville, NJ, August 3, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 3, 1993, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Somerville, NJ
- Location: 40.5697° N, 74.6077° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Somerville, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5697&lon=-74.6077&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38620
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93LA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38620/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA141

## Probable cause

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, climb - to cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency

## Analysis

THIS WAS THE THIRD FLIGHT FOR THE HOMEBUILT EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE.  BEFORE EACH FLIGHT THE PRE-TAKEOFF CHECKS WERE ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS.  AFTER THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, THE CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE (CHT) WOULD RISE AND EVENTUALLY REACHED IN EXCESS OF 500 DEGREES F. ON THIS FLIGHT THE CHT INCREASED AGAIN, BUT IN ADDITION, THE RPM DECREASED FROM 2300 TO 1600.  THE PILOT MANEUVERED TO RETURN TO LAND, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING.  EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE ENGINE BY THE FAA REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES.

## Factual narrative

On Tuesday, August 3, 1993, at 0930 eastern daylight time, a Gera Nieuport II, N44030, a homebuilt airplane, registered to and piloted by Max V. Gera, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing in a field in Somerville, New Jersey.  The pilot received minor injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.  The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91.

The pilot stated that this was the third flight in this airplane.  On each flight, including this one, after takeoff, the cylinder head temperature (CHT) climbed in excess of 500 degrees F.  After the two previous flights, the pilot had modified the engine cowling, in order to provide improved cooling.

On this flight, the pre-takeoff checks were performed without any unusual indications.  The engine RPM reached 2300. Once airborne, the CHT began to rise and exceeded 500 degrees F, and the engine RPM's decreased to approximately 1600.  The pilot stated that he was unable to maintain altitude and airspeed, and he landed the airplane in a field.

Mr. Rodney A. Bourey, Airworthiness Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration, examined the airplane.  This examination revealed no discrepancies of the engine or the airframe.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44030](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44030-2013-06-04), registration cancelled 2013-06-04, S/N 1, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GERA NIEUPORT II (NIEUPORT I)
- Registry model: [Gera Max V NIEUPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/gera-max-v-nieuport) (registry code 0564043) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A40 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a40-series) (registry code 17001, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1
- Airframe hours: 3
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A-40 40 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Max  V. Gera
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 102 total, 1 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F

## 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 19930803027489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930803027489A), Aug 3, 1993: Amtr NIEUPORT28, Somerville, NJ, Substantial damage. Pilot reported engine over heating problem.. On second test overheated lost partial power. Settled into a field.

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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