# NTSB SEA00LA116: Davis/Crouch Avid MK IV, N518DC, Concrete, WA, June 27, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 27, 2000, 11:06 local (18:06 UTC) - Place: Concrete, WA - Coordinates: 48.560485, -121.770446 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5605&lon=-121.7704&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49542 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49542/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA116 ## Probable cause Fracture of the engine's #1 connecting rod, resulting in a total loss of engine power. Factors were an engine overheat condition experienced at an undetermined time, and no suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## 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, unknown - engine assembly - overtemperature (contributing factor) - engine assembly,connecting rod - fractured (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while returning to the airport, the engine sputtered and quit, and would not restart. He attempted a forced landing in a rugged logging area. He was unable to make it to a logging road, and the airplane crashed into trees and bushes along the side of the road. The engine, a Subaru auto engine modified for experimental-aircraft use, had 309.3 hours total time and had undergone a condition inspection 5.1 flight hours/one week prior to the accident. Post-accident examinations revealed that the #1 connecting rod had fractured and penetrated the engine case. Indications of an engine overheat condition occurring at an undetermined time were also noted including melted overheat sensors on the cylinder heads, and oil baked onto the oil filler cap and the inside of a valve cover. ## Factual narrative On June 27, 2000, approximately 1106 Pacific daylight time, a Davis/Crouch Avid Mark IV experimental-category amateur-built airplane, N518DC, was substantially damaged in a forced landing following a loss of engine power approximately 3 nautical miles north of Concrete, Washington. The commercial pilot-in-command, listed on the FAA aircraft registry as a co-builder and co-owner of the aircraft, and a passenger were seriously injured in the crash. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local 14 CFR 91 personal flight from Concrete. The pilot reported that he departed the Concrete, Washington, airport (WA13) about 1030 with 15 gallons of automotive fuel on board. He stated that he flew north over Baker Lake and Shannon Lake. He reported that during the return flight to the Concrete airport, while over Shannon Lake, the engine sputtered and quit, and would not restart. The pilot reported he then attempted an emergency landing in a rugged logging area west of Lake Shannon and north of Lake Tyee. He stated he was unable to make it to a logging road, and crashed into trees and bushes along the side of the road. The occupants facilitated their own rescue by dialing 911 on a cellular telephone and reporting the accident. An FAA inspector who responded to the accident scene reported that witnesses stated they heard a loud noise and saw a puff of smoke from the aircraft as it was flying, and that the aircraft then began to lose altitude before they lost sight of it. The FAA inspector reported that in a post-accident examination of the aircraft, he observed a hole in the engine crankcase, and that the #1 connecting rod had gone through the crankcase at the location of this hole. The engine was a Subaru automotive engine modified for use in experimental aircraft by Stratus, Inc. Stratus, Inc.'s owner reported to the NTSB that he and another individual with Stratus examined the aircraft wreckage with the FAA's permission following the accident. He reported that during their examination, the overheat sensors mounted on the cylinder heads were observed to be melted, indicative of the engine having experienced an overheat condition. Stratus, Inc.'s owner also reported that other indications of engine overheat within the engine were observed, such as oil baked onto the oil filler cap and the inside of a valve cover. The Stratus owner stated that his company has told customers that if an engine is overheated, it needs to be taken apart to check for damage. The FAA aircraft registry indicated that the airplane received an experimental-category airworthiness certificate on May 3, 1996. According to the aircraft owner, the airplane and engine had 309.3 hours total time and 5.1 flight hours since the aircraft's last condition inspection, which the pilot/owner signed off one week prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N518DC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N518DC-2001-04-05), registration cancelled 2001-04-05, S/N 1475D (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Davis/Crouch AVID MK IV - Registry model: [Davis R E/Crouch J MK IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/davis-r-e-crouch-j-mk-iv) (registry code 05601J9) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1475D - Airframe hours: 310 - Engines: Stratus E81 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joe W. Crouch - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 2000, 6 hours before - Departed: WA13, CONCRETE, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; commercial, flight instructor, private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 813 total, 310 in this make and model, 677 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °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 20000627013109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000627013109A), Jun 27, 2000: Concrete, WA, No damage. (-23) A/c departed Concrete airport (WA13) for sightseeing trip around mr baker and lakes. Approx. 45 minutes into flight witnesses confirmed that they heard a… ## Other investigations on N518DC (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA97LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA004), Oct 6, 1996: Crouch Avid Mark IV (N518DC), Stanwood, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to perform an adequate preflight inspection, which led to fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's failure to… 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.