# NTSB SEA94LA125: Kelly Long EZ, N8JE, Lindon, UT, May 21, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 21, 1994, 15:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place: Lindon, UT
- Coordinates: 40.339096, -111.720237 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3391&lon=-111.7202&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41928
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA125
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41928/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA125

## Probable cause

PISTON FAILURE AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise
  - engine assembly,piston - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing
  - terrain condition - none suitable (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED SERIOUS VIBRATIONS FROM THE ENGINE WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT.  THE VIBRATION DIMINISHED WHEN HE REDUCED POWER, AND RECURRED WHEN HE ADDED POWER.  HE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING INTO A SMALL FIELD, AND THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED WITH A HARD LANDING.  INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER THREE PISTON WAS NOT MOVING IN ITS BORE, BUT IT WOULD MOVE TOWARD TOP DEAD CENTER WHEN IN WAS MANUALLY PUSHED DOWN IN THE BORE.

## Factual narrative

On May 21, 1994, approximately 1550 mountain daylight time, a Kelly Long EZ, N8JE, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Lindon, Utah.  The Airline Transport Pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries.  No flight plan was filed for the local flight, which had departed Provo, Utah, about 1520. The ELT functioned and was shut off by an FAA inspector at the scene of the accident.

The pilot stated that he encountered serious vibrations while in cruise flight.  He reduced the power and the vibrations diminished, added power again, and the vibrations recurred.  He reduced the power and attempted a forced landing in an open field.  The landing gear collapsed after touchdown in a hard landing in the short field.  Post-crash inspection revealed that the piston top of number three cylinder was not moving in the bore.  The cylinder could not be removed during the inspection, but the piston top could be pushed part way down the bore, and it then moved back near top dead center with engine rotation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8JE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8JE-2020-12-05), registration cancelled 2020-12-05, S/N 430, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KELLY LONG EZ
- Registry model: [Kelly Edward M LONG EZ](https://openairdocs.org/model/kelly-edward-m-long-ez) (registry code 056096D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 430
- Airframe hours: 1298
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B1C 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Nielson Leasing Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1994, 1 hours before
- Departed: PVU, PROVO, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 18,300 total, 50 in this make and model, 13,000 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 60 statute miles

## 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 19940521011899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940521011899A), May 21, 1994: Amtrru VARIEZELONG, Lindon, UT, Substantial damage. Serious engine vibrations. Collapsed gear on hard forced landing in short field. NR3 cylinder connecting rod broke.

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.