# NTSB WPR10LA419: Hummel / Finberg Ultra Cruiser, N524DF, Canby, OR, August 21, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 21, 2010, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Canby, OR - Coordinates: 45.2075, -122.669166 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2075&lon=-122.6692&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77033 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA419 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77033/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77033 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA419 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to low cylinder compression. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Finberg Kenneth Dale ULTRACRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=05902SZ), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Finberg Kenneth Dale ULTRACRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=05902SZ), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Finberg Kenneth Dale ULTRACRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=05902SZ), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Finberg Kenneth Dale ULTRACRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05902SZ), [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: [Finberg Kenneth Dale ULTRACRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05902SZ), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Finberg Kenneth Dale ULTRACRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05902SZ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was in cruise flight when the engine began to run rough and lose power. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost total power and the pilot maneuvered the airplane to a nearby field to perform a forced landing. Just before touchdown, the airplane collided with a barbed wire fence and subsequently landed hard. Examination and disassembly of the 2-cylinder engine revealed that the right and left cylinder intake valves were not properly seating with the cylinder heads when the valves were in the closed position. The pilot reported this condition would likely cause low cylinder compression and a loss of engine power. No other anomalies were noted with the engine. ## Factual narrative On August 21, 2010, about 1145 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Hummel/Finberg Ultra Cruiser airplane, N524DF, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing near Canby, Oregon. The sport pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to the pilot and operated as a personal flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Mulino State Airport, Mulino, Oregon, at 1140, and was en route to Lenhardt Airpark, Hubbard, Oregon. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that about 10 minutes after takeoff the engine began to run rough, and lose power. He said he was unable to correct the situation and initiated an off-airport landing to a nearby field. Just before touchdown in the field, the airplane collided with a barbed wire fence and landed hard. The experimental single-seat airplane was powered by a four stoke Globe 2-cylinder horizontally opposed air cooled piston engine, rated at 35 horsepower. Postaccident examination and disassembly of the engine revealed that right and left cylinder intake valves were not properly seating with the cylinder heads when the valves were in the closed position. The pilot reported that this condition would likely cause low cylinder compression and a loss of engine power. No other anomalies were noted with the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N524DF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N524DF-2023-04-30), registration cancelled 2023-04-30, S/N 71 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HUMMEL / FINBERG ULTRA CRUISER - Registry model: [Finberg Kenneth Dale ULTRACRUISER](https://openairdocs.org/model/finberg-kenneth-dale-ultracruiser) (registry code 05902SZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 71 - Airframe hours: 64 - Engines: Globe 35 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Finberg Kenneth Dale - Registered owner: Finberg Kenneth Dale - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 15, 2010 - Departed: 4S9, Mulino, OR - Destination: Hubbard, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review June 26, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 426 total, 38 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20100821041899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100821041899A), Aug 21, 2010: Finberg Ken ULTRACRUISE, Canby, OR, Substantial damage. Enroute from mulino to lenharts airport, pilot reached approximately 800 feet MSL when the engine quit. Pilot attempted to land the aircraft in a field but hit… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77033. 398 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 366 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354894&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354895&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-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.