# NTSB WPR15LA192: Roberts Super Bear, N92MJ, La Grande, OR, June 20, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 2015, 07:55 local (14:55 UTC) - Place: La Grande, OR - Coordinates: 45.287223, -118.00389 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2872&lon=-118.0039&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 14, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91404 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15LA192 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91404/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91404 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA192 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Roberts John G SUPER BEAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05618TV), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Roberts John G SUPER BEAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05618TV), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Roberts John G SUPER BEAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05618TV), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice touch-and-go landings. After the third landing, the airplane lifted off the ground. Shortly thereafter, the engine surged and lost power, followed by a second surge and loss of power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane, and it subsequently impacted the ground at the end of the runway. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On June 20, 2015, about 0755 Pacific daylight time, a Roberts Super Bear, N92MJ, experienced a loss of engine power during the approach to land at La Grande/Union county Airport (LGD), La Grande, Oregon. The student pilot sustained minor injuries, and the flight instructor was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage structure. The airplane was registered to and operated by the student pilot under the provisions of 14 code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from LGD at about 0715. The student pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice touch and go landings. After the third landing, the airplane lifted off the ground; shortly thereafter the engine surged and lost power followed by a second surge and loss of power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and they impacted the ground at the end of the runway. During a postaccident examination of the engine, overseen by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the spark plugs were removed and exhibited no abnormal oil residue or evidence of fouling. The cylinders were boroscoped and no unusual wear was observed on the cylinder walls, pistons, and piston rings. The propeller was rotated by hand and all four cylinders exhibited thumb compression. While the engine was being rotated, the magneto with the impulse coupling produced spark at the ignition leads. The other magneto did not have an impulse coupling and could not be tested. The fuel tanks were boroscoped and no contaminants were observed. The main fuel screen was removed and found clean. The air filter to the carburetor was examined and it was not blocked. The carburetor was removed and further examined. The finger screen was removed and contained no contaminants. The venturi was tight and was clear of debris. The drain plug from the carburetor was removed and no fuel was observed within the bowl. The throttle and mixture linkages moved freely from stop to stop. The drain plug and fuel supply line were reconnected to the carburetor. Fuel was added to the left and right fuel tanks individually; the fuel flowed freely from each tank, through the fuel selector and into the carburetor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N92MJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N92MJ), registered now, S/N 2144, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBERTS SUPER BEAR - Registry model: [Roberts John G SUPER BEAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/roberts-john-g-super-bear) (registry code 05618TV) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2144 - Year built: 1993 - Airframe hours: 388 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-B2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 2014, 46 hours before - Departed: LGD, La Grande, OR - Destination: LGD, La Grande, OR - Airport: LGD, La Grande/Union County Airport, runway 12, 6,260 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 78; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 14, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,500 total, 50 in this make and model, 5,300 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 44; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 41 total, 41 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: LGD ## 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 20150620009089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150620009089A), Jun 20, 2015: Roberts John G SUPER BEAR, Lagrande, OR, Substantial damage. While receiving instruction the student pilot was manipulating the controls and perfromed a total of 3 take-offs and landings to a full stop and 1 go-around.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91404. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433594&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Email Regarding the Post Accident Examination (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433595&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%20Regarding%20the%20Post%20Accident%20Examination-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 3, .PDF, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433596&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.