# NTSB WPR09LA454: Lewis Jennings Nieuport 11, N124LH, Pahrump, NV, September 18, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 18, 2009, 09:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Pahrump, NV - Coordinates: 36.27111, -115.995002 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2711&lon=-115.9950&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74748 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA454 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74748/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74748 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA454 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to a failure of the engine's sole magneto. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ignition system: magneto/distributor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Jennings Lewis NIEUPORT 11CIRCA RE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414/cases.md?model=056191E), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Jennings Lewis NIEUPORT 11CIRCA RE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=056191E), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Jennings Lewis NIEUPORT 11CIRCA RE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056191E), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Jennings Lewis NIEUPORT 11CIRCA RE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056191E), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Jennings Lewis NIEUPORT 11CIRCA RE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056191E), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis During cruise flight the engine lost all power. The pilot did not have enough time and altitude to perform an engine restart, and during the subsequent forced landing, the airplane nosed over. The airplane was equipped with an automotive engine converted for aviation use. Post accident examination revealed that the engine's only magneto had failed after its rotor was damaged by a loose high tension lead attachment screw. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer during the accident sequence. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 18, 2009, at 0915 Pacific daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built, Lewis Jennings Nieuport 11 biplane, N124LH, nosed over during a forced landing near Pahrump, Nevada. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The certificated sport pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer. The local personal flight departed Calvada Meadows Airport, Pahrump, about 0835. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported flying the airplane for approximately 40 minutes when the engine lost power. He was at an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet agl, and stated that he did not have sufficient time to perform an engine restart. Prior to losing power he had been monitoring the engine oil pressure and temperature, and reported that they were within normal limits. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The single-seat, experimental airplane, was issued a Special Airworthiness Certificate on January 4, 2007. It was powered by a four-cylinder, air-cooled, 1835 cc Volkswagen automobile engine, and equipped with a two-blade wooden propeller. The pilot reported that the engine was overhauled in February 2009, and installed on the airplane approximately 8 flight hours prior to the accident. TESTS AND RESEARCH Engine A single Taylor Cable Products, Vertex automotive magneto provided ignition for the engine. Post accident examination of the magneto revealed that the high tension cable screw for cylinder number two had become unscrewed from its mounting post within the magneto distributor head. The screw was located within the magneto housing, and signature marks indicated that it had made contact with the rotor arm. The rotor arm was bent downwards, and the rotor case had become disconnected from the shaft. Rotation of the engine did not produce a corresponding rotation of the rotor. The design of magneto was such that the high tension leads were held in place within the distributor head with tapered screws. The screws were designed to hold the high tension lead in place, and bridge the inner conductor to its respective contact within the head. A representative from Taylor Cable Products stated that the magneto was manufactured in January 1996. He further stated that the magneto was designed for automotive use, and as such did not have specific provisions for locking the high tension screws in place. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N124LH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N124LH-2011-11-18), registration cancelled 2011-11-18, S/N 443, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Lewis Jennings NIEUPORT 11 - Registry model: [Jennings Lewis NIEUPORT 11CIRCA RE](https://openairdocs.org/model/jennings-lewis-nieuport-11circa-re) (registry code 056191E) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 443 - Airframe hours: 41 - Engines: Volkswagen 1835 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2009, 41 hours before - Departed: NV74, Pahrump, NV - Destination: NV74, Pahrump, NV - Airport: NV74, Calvada Meadows Airport, runway 33, 5,200 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 3, 2009; seat: single; flight hours: 643 total, 643 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: NV65, 21 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 20090918017319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090918017319A), Sep 18, 2009: Amtr NIEUPORT11, Pahrump, NV, Substantial damage. Mr. Jennings was in cruise at 1000 ft AGL and had been for about thirty min when his engine quit. Mr. Jennings made an emergency landing in the desert and… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 1, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74748. 5.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 558 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321676&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Magneto Manufacturer (item 2, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321677&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20%20-%20Magneto%20Manufacturer-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Magneto Head With Missing Screw (item 3, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321678&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Magneto%20Head%20With%20Missing%20Screw-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Rotor Witness Marks (item 4, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321679&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Rotor%20Witness%20Marks-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Bent Rotor (item 5, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321680&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Bent%20Rotor-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - High Tension Screw (item 6, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321681&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20High%20Tension%20Screw-Master.PDF - Photo 5 - Metal Shavings Within Magneto Body (item 7, .PDF, 992 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321682&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Metal%20Shavings%20Within%20Magneto%20Body-Master.PDF 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.