# NTSB SEA00LA157: Hamer Lancair 235, N84LH, Chiloquin, OR, August 10, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 10, 2000, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Chiloquin, OR - Coordinates: 42.999526, -121.629753 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9995&lon=-121.6298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49987 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49987/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA157 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power due to a fracture and separation of the engine's crankshaft. A factor was a vehicle on the roadway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - engine assembly,crankshaft - failure (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - vehicle (contributing factor) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 150 feet above ground level (AGL), the airplane developed a rough running engine and the pilot initiated a forced landing to a nearby highway. The pilot stated that he planned on landing the airplane on a non-congested area of the highway, however, the aircraft collided with a flatbed tractor-trailer combination that was traveling on the Interstate. Post-accident inspection and teardown of the airplane's engine revealed that the engine's crankshaft was fractured and had separated between the number three and number four crankpins. ## Factual narrative On August 10, 2000, about 1600 Pacific daylight time, a Hamer Lancair 235, N84LH, sustained substantial damage during an off airport forced landing following a loss of engine power near Chiloquin, Oregon. The airplane is owned by the pilot and was being operated as a personal flight under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. There was no fire and no report of ELT activation. The flight originated from Chiloquin, Oregon. In a telephone interview and written statement, the pilot reported that the aircraft's engine "...began running rough" and he subsequently made a precautionary landing to a nearby airport. After landing, the pilot inspected the airplane and determined that the rough running engine was the result of improper ignition timing. A certified mechanic retimed the magnetos to fire 25 degrees before top-dead-center. After a ground run and recheck of the ignition timing, the pilot chose to test fly the airplane before continuing the cross-country flight. Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 150 feet above ground level (AGL), the airplane again developed a rough running engine and the pilot initiated a forced landing to a nearby highway. The pilot stated that he planned on landing the airplane on a non-congested area of the highway; however, while maneuvering for the landing the airplane collided with a flatbed tractor-trailer combination that was traveling on Interstate Highway 97. The airplane came to rest on top of the forward most section of the trailer, against the tractor. The driver of the semi-truck was not injured. Post-accident inspection and teardown of the airplane, by the pilot and representatives for the Sacramento, California, Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), revealed that the engine's crankshaft was fractured and had separated between the number three and number four crankpins. The aircraft was powered by a modified Lycoming O-290-G series engine. According to the engine manufacture, the O-290-G series engines were designed and built specifically for ground power applications. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N84LH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84LH-2011-10-19), registration cancelled 2011-10-19, S/N K173, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HAMER LANCAIR 235 (LANCAIR 23) - Registry model: [Hamer Howard A LANCAIR 235](https://openairdocs.org/model/hamer-howard-a-lancair-235) (registry code 05616WX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 173 - Airframe hours: 450 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-G 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Howard A. Hamer - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 12, 2000, 16 hours before - Departed: 2S7, CHILOQUIN, OR - Destination: 2S7 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 768 total, 606 in this make and model, 768 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KLM, 180 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 20000810009779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000810009779A), Aug 10, 2000: Amtr LANCAIR235, Chiloquin, OR, No damage. (-23) Howard hamer departed Chiloquin state airport, Oregon inb N84LH on August 10, 2000 at 1600 hours. This was planned as a flight test after maintenance.… 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.