# NTSB WPR14LA394: Lorentzen Lancair Legacy, N368W, Reno, NV, September 13, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 13, 2014, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.668056, -119.876388 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6681&lon=-119.8764&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 5, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 90171 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14LA394 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90171/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90171 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA394 ## Probable cause The shearing of mounting bolts that attached the right turbocharger to its mounting bracket during an air race, which resulted in hot exhaust gases leaking into the engine compartment and starting a fire. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine exhaust](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057800): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Stephen Lorentzen LANCAIR LEGACY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057800/cases.md?model=0563144), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057800/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Stephen Lorentzen LANCAIR LEGACY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=0563144), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Stephen Lorentzen LANCAIR LEGACY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=0563144), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Stephen Lorentzen LANCAIR LEGACY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=0563144), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Stephen Lorentzen LANCAIR LEGACY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0563144), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was participating in an air race when an in-flight fire in the engine compartment and a loss of engine power occurred. He was unable to discharge the fire extinguisher and declared an emergency. He flew off the racecourse and touched down the airplane in rough terrain short of a runway. Each side of the engine had exhaust pipes from each cylinder that connected to a manifold via a slip joint on each pipe. The manifold connected to a turbocharger at the rear end of the engine, and the turbocharger was mounted to the airframe. Postaccident examination revealed that the two bolts that attached the right turbocharger to its mounting bracket had sheared. The exhaust pipes had pulled down and away from the cylinders, likely due to the weight of the turbocharger and exhaust manifold, which created a gap at the slip joint for the No. 1 cylinder, which was the most aft cylinder and closest to the turbocharger. This allowed hot exhaust gases to escape into the engine compartment and start a fire in the immediate vicinity of the gap. There was also a broken weld at the induction tube that carried turbocharged air from the right turbocharger. ## Factual narrative On September 13, 2014, about 1400 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Lorentzen Lancair Legacy, N368W, made a forced landing near Reno Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane as Race 88 at the Reno National Championship Air Races under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage during the accident sequence. The local air race flight departed Reno about 1345. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported an in-flight fire in the engine compartment combined with a loss of power during a race. He was unable to discharge the fire extinguisher, and declared an emergency. The pilot exchanged airspeed for altitude as he pulled off the race course to set up for an emergency landing. However, he was unable to make it back to runway 14, and landed short in rough terrain. An FAA inspector examined the airplane. The flaps were speed taped in the up position. The right side cylinders were numbers one, three, and five from rear to front, and the left side cylinders were two, four, and six from rear to front. The exhaust system configuration was the same for both sides. Each side had exhaust pipes from each cylinder that connected to a manifold via a slip joint on each pipe. The manifold connected to a turbocharger at the rear end of the engine, and the turbocharger was mounted to the airframe. The inspector shook the right exhaust manifold, and the entire exhaust system, including the turbocharger, moved. He observed that the two bolts that attached the right turbocharger to the right turbocharger mounting bracket had sheared. The exhaust pipes had pulled down and away from the cylinders, and there was a gap at the slip joint for cylinder number one. There was charring and soot in the immediate vicinity of the gap. There was also a broken weld at the induction tube carrying turbocharged air from the right turbocharger. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N368W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N368W-2022-03-05), registration cancelled 2022-03-05, S/N L2K-102, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LORENTZEN LANCAIR LEGACY (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Stephen Lorentzen LANCAIR LEGACY](https://openairdocs.org/model/stephen-lorentzen-lancair-legacy) (registry code 0563144) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-550-series) (registry code 17043, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: L2K-102 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 51 - Engines: Continental Motors Inc TSIO-550 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Operator: Wolstenholme Robert F - Registered owner: Wolstenholme Robert F - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 24, 2014 - Departed: 5SD, Reno, NV - Destination: 5SD, Reno, NV - Airport: 5SD, Reno Stead, runway 14, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 17, 2014; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 500 in this make and model, 65 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 23,000 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KRNO ## 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 20140913016319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140913016319A), Sep 13, 2014: Stephen Lorentzen LANCAIR LEGACY, Reno, NV, Substantial damage. Inflight fire in the engine compartment combined with a loss of power. The pilot was unable to discharge his fire extinguisher. A mayday was declared. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 24, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90171. 1.1 MB in all. - Maintenance Logbook Excerpts (item 1, .PDF, 221 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434240&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Logbook%20Excerpts-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 903 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434298&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-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.