# NTSB NYC96LA001: Cheney Avid Flyer, N29GC, Newton, NH, October 2, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 2, 1995, 16:25 local (20:25 UTC)
- Place: Newton, NH
- Location: 42.8695° N, 71.0345° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Newton, NH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8695&lon=-71.0345&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39106
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39106/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA001

## Probable cause

The seizure of a piston during the takeoff climb, resulting in a loss of engine power, forced landing, and subsequent collision with trees.

## 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,piston - seized (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing
  - object - tree(s)
  - object - wire,static

## Analysis

DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB, ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER.  THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING, DURING WHICH THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND POWER LINES.  THE FAA INSPECTOR STATED THAT DURING THE POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION, THE ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY TEST RUN; HOWEVER, 'INSPECTION REVEALED EVIDENCE OF SCORING AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF GALLING ON THE FORWARD CYLINDER ONLY.'

## Factual narrative

On October 2, 1995, about 1625 eastern daylight time, an experimental, Cheney Avid Flyer, N29GC, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees and power lines during a forced landing, near Newton, New Hampshire.  The private pilot and passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight.  There was no flight plan for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot reported that he departed near a pond in Newton.  During the initial takeoff climb, about 200 feet above ground level, the engine lost total power, and he performed a forced landing.  The airplane collided with trees and power lines during the forced landing.

During postaccident examination, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector test ran the engine successfully; However, the FAA Inspector stated:

...Removed the exhaust system to gain visual access to      the cylinder walls piston rings and the piston.       Inspection revealed evidence of scoring and a small      amount of galling on the forward cylinder only.  This      evidence is uniform to piston to cylinder wall      seizure....

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N29GC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N29GC-1996-01-31), registration cancelled 1996-01-31, S/N 29 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHENEY AVID FLYER (AVID FLYE)
- Registry model: [Cheney Gordon A AVID FLYER](https://openairdocs.org/model/cheney-gordon-a-avid-flyer) (registry code 056185L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 29
- Airframe hours: 168
- Engines: BOMBARDIER 582-UL 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gordon A. Cheney
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 5, 1995, 11 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,428 total, 168 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PSM, 16 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 19951002030879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951002030879A), Oct 2, 1995: Amtr AVIDFLYER, Newton, NH, Substantial damage. Engine seized on climbout. Struck trees and wires on forced landing.

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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