# NTSB SEA05LA189: Ballhagen/Shyrock Q-2, N12QJ, Kalispell, MT, September 2, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 2005, 20:30 local (Sep 2, 2005, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Kalispell, MT - Coordinates: 48.128334, -114.348609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1283&lon=-114.3486&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Helena FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62412 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05LA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62412/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA189 ## Probable cause The pilot/owner's improper setting of the engine's valve clearance, leading to the failure of the exhaust valves to fully close and a total loss of power while on a VFR downwind, and the pilot/owner's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed as he tried to extend his power-off glide to the approach end of the runway. ## 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, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - open (cause) - maintenance,adjustment - improper use of, owner/pilot mechanic (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - airspeed(vref) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis Just prior to the flight, the pilot, who was five hours into a ten hour experimental aircraft flight test regimen, readjusted the valve lash in the Subaru engine that powered the subject aircraft. At the beginning of the flight, he took off and climbed to about 1,000 feet above ground level (agl). After he rolled out on downwind, his ground crew contacted him on the aircraft radio to advise him that the aircraft's engine appeared to have been missing and running rough during the takeoff and initial climbout. About the time that the pilot received the radio transmission, the aircraft's engine quit producing power, and he decided to continue on around the pattern in order to execute a forced landing on the runway from which he had departed. As he turned from base to final, the pilot realized that he might not be able to stretch the glide to the end of the runway, but he elected to attempt to do so. When the aircraft descended to about 25 feet agl, its airspeed slowed to the point where it stall/mushed into the terrain about one-quarter of a mile off the end of the runway. In a post accident inspection, it was determined that the valve clearance in the engine had been set with a gap so small that when the internal engine temperature began to increase the exhaust valves in each cylinder did not completely close. Without the closure of the valves, sufficient compression was not created in the cylinders, and the engine stopped producing power. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 2005, approximately 2030 mountain daylight time, an experimental Ballhagen/Shyrock Q-2, N12QJ, impacted the terrain during a no-power forced landing off the end of the runway at Flathead Skyranch, which is located about five miles southwest of Kalispell, Montana. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which originated at the same airport less than five minutes prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. There was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, who was five hours into a ten hour experimental aircraft flight test regimen, just prior to this flight he had readjusted the valve lash in the Subaru engine that powered the subject aircraft. At the beginning of the flight, he took off on runway 16, and climbed to about 1,000 feet above ground level (agl). After he rolled out on downwind, his ground crew contacted him on the aircraft radio to advise him that the aircraft's engine appeared to have been missing and running rough during the takeoff and initial climbout. About the time that the pilot received the radio transmission, the aircraft's engine quit producing power, and he decided to continue on around the pattern in order to execute a forced landing on the runway from which he had departed. As he turned from base to final, the pilot realized that he might not be able to stretch the glide to the end of the runway, but he elected to attempt to do so. When the aircraft descended to about 25 feet agl, its airspeed slowed to the point where it stall/mushed into the terrain about one-quarter of a mile off the end of the runway. After impacting the terrain, the aircraft slid for about 75 feet before coming to a stop. During the impact with the ground, the front wing (canard) sustained substantial damage. In a post accident inspection, both the pilot/owner and an FAA Airworthiness Inspector who responded to the scene determined that the valve clearance in the engine had been set with a gap so small that when the internal engine temperature began to increase, the exhaust valves in each cylinder did not completely close. Without the closure of the valves, sufficient compression would not be created in the cylinders, and the engine would stop producing power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N12QJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12QJ-2013-06-13), registration cancelled 2013-06-13, S/N A2876, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ballhagen/Shyrock Q-2 - Registry model: [Ballhagen/Shyrock QUICKIE Q-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/ballhagen-shyrock-quickie-q-2) (registry code 05645UN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: A2876 - Airframe hours: 300 - Engines: Subaru EA81-1.8L 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David G. Hudak - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2005, 5 hours before - Departed: MT95, Kalispell, MT - Destination: MT95 - Airport: MT95, Flathead Sky Ranch ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 1,056 total, 220 in this make and model, 1,010 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 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 20050901019869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050901019869A), Sep 1, 2005: Amtr Q200, Kalispell, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft took off from a Private airstrip about 5 nautical miles southeast of Kalispell city airport (S27), and the engine started missing. The pilot… 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.