# NTSB SEA89FA118: Colonial C-1, N260B, Bremerton, WA, June 23, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 23, 1989, 15:19 local (22:19 UTC)
- Place: Bremerton, WA
- Coordinates: 46.53001, -122.1399 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5300&lon=-122.1399&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 73-07-04](https://openairdocs.org/ad/73-07-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40925
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA89FA118
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40925/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89FA118

## Probable cause

MALFUNCTION OF BOTH MAGNETOS DUE TO DETERIORATION OF THE COILS, WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  AN INADEQUATE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE (NO CALENDAR TIME LIMITS), AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN (ROUGH/UNEVEN) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

## 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, maneuvering
  - ignition system,magneto - deteriorated (cause)
  - ignition system,magneto - failure,total (cause)
  - maintenance,compliance with ad - not attained
  - procedure inadequate (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing

## Analysis

ABOUT 9 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, AS THE PLTS WERE MNVRG ON A LOCAL TRAINING FLT, THE ENG LOST POWER. AN EMERG LNDG WAS MADE IN THE ONLY AVAILABLE PLACE, A CLEAR CUT AREA OF AN EVERGREEN FOREST. DURING THE LNDG, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH ROUGH TERRAIN & A STUMP. FUNCTIONAL TESTS REVEALED THAT BOTH MAGNETOS WOULD PRODUCE A SPARK AT AMBIENT TEMP, BUT THEY WOULD NOT OPERATE WHEN HEATED TO NORMAL OPERATING TEMP. BEFORE THIS FLT, THE 1957 MODEL ACFT HAD BEEN IN STORAGE FOR AN EXTDD PERIOD OF TIME. RECORDS SHOWED THAT AN ANNUAL INSPN HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON 4/3/87 AT 1294.3 HRS OF SVC. THE NEXT ANNUAL INSPN WAS JUST BEFORE THE ACDNT FLT AT 1294.8 HRS. THE COILS IN THE BENDIX S4LN-20 SERIES MAGNETOS INSTALLED IN THE ACFT WERE REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE 2000 HRS TIME-IN-SVC IAW AD 73-07-04 (ISSUED IN 1973) & BENDIX SVC BUL #560A. THE AD HAD NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH. NEITHER THE AD NOR THE SVC BUL SPECIFIED A CALENDAR TIME LIMIT FOR MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF THE MAGNETO COILS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N260B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N260B-2012-09-18), registration cancelled 2012-09-18, S/N 20, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: COLONIAL C-1
- Registry model: [Colonial C-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/colonial-c-1) (registry code 5110102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20
- Airframe hours: 1295
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: John Wells Aviation Service
- Registered owner: John Wells Aviation Svc, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, June 20, 1989, 0 hours before
- Departed: PWT, BREMERTON, WA
- Airport: PWT, Bremerton

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 11,483 total, 11,412 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PWT, 1 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 19890623017409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890623017409A), Jun 23, 1989: Conaer C1, Bremerton, WA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lost power. Impacted trees. Tried to land on dirt road. Bad mags and ignition harness. Annualed three days prior.

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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