# NTSB WPR15LA254: Raudenbush Ernie Lancair Super ES, N74ES, Winkelman, AZ, September 1, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 2015, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Winkelman, AZ - Coordinates: 33.015556, -110.654441 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0156&lon=-110.6544&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 11, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA/FSDO, Continental Motors Inc - NTSB case key (mKey): 91905 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15LA254 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91905/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91905 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA254 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies. ## 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: [Raudenbush Ernie LANCAIR SUPER ES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05607LU), [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. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Raudenbush Ernie LANCAIR SUPER ES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05607LU), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Raudenbush Ernie LANCAIR SUPER ES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05607LU), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot stated that, about 1 hour into the cross-country personal flight, he observed a "slight" loss of engine power and "fluctuating" engine exhaust gas temperature indications. Shortly thereafter, the engine experienced a significant loss of power, and the pilot subsequently chose to perform a forced landing to a rocky plateau, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. Following the pilot's egress, the airplane was consumed by a postimpact fire. The engine was examined and disassembled following the accident, and it displayed significant thermal damage. No anomalies were observed that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 2015, about 0930 mountain standard time, a Lancair Super ES, N74ES, was destroyed during a forced landing and subsequent post-impact fire after experiencing a loss of engine power in cruise flight near Winkelman, Arizona. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed El Paso International Airport (ELP), El Paso, Texas, about 0820, and was destined for Glendale Municipal Airport (GEU), Glendale, Arizona. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot stated that his preflight inspection, engine run up, and departure were uneventful with no anomalies noted. He departed ELP with about 50 gallons of fuel onboard for the 316-nautical-mile flight, and climbed the airplane to a cruise altitude of 8,500 feet mean sea level (msl). About 1 hour into the flight, the pilot noted a "slight" loss of engine power and observed the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) indications from all 6 engine cylinders "fluctuating." The pilot adjusted the fuel mixture, and stated that about 30 seconds later, the engine stopped producing "most" of its power and was "struggling to stay running." He then manipulated the throttle, mixture, and propeller controls, but none of these inputs produced any response from the engine. The pilot established the airplane's best glide speed and elected to land the airplane on a rocky plateau. The airplane came to rest upright and the pilot egressed. The airplane was subsequently consumed by a post-impact fire. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for rotorcraft-helicopter and instrument helicopter, and a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. He did not hold a current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical certificate. The pilot reported 1,650 total hours of flight experience, of which 240 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. The experimental amateur-built airplane was issued an FAA airworthiness certificate in 2000. It was equipped with a Continental IO-550 series, 310-hp reciprocating engine. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on October 24, 2014. At the time of the accident, the airframe and engine had accumulated about 620 total hours of operation. According to the pilot, the engine underwent extensive maintenance about 100 hours prior to the accident, including honing of the cylinder barrels and replacement of the crankshaft and camshaft; however, despite repeated requests, the pilot did not provide documentation of this maintenance. The engine was examined on March 13, 2016. The engine remained attached to its mount, which was separated from the airframe. The engine and all components exhibited significant thermal damage, and all steel components were rusted. The crankshaft could not be rotated due to thermal damage. The propeller remained attached to the crankshaft,and all three blades exhibited s-bending and leading edge damage. The exhaust system remained attached to the cylinders, and the intake filter and tube upstream of the throttle body were not observed. The right magneto remained attached to the engine, and the left magneto mounting location contained a cover plate, indicative of an electronic ignition system; however, the ignition control was not observed and was presumed destroyed by the post-impact fire. All fuel lines remained attached to their respective fittings, and the housing around the fittings was partially melted away. The fuel metering unit and throttle body fittings were secure. The throttle and mixture cables remained attached to their respective levers; however, the controls could not be manipulated due to thermal damage. All six cylinders remained attached to the crankcase and exhibited little-to-no combustion deposits; consistent with prolonged lean fuel/air mixture operation. Numerous cylinder through-bolts were displaced from the engine case, and several through-bolt nuts and cylinder attach nuts were fractured; however, the crankcase and main bearings did not display any evidence that indicated that the through-bolts were displaced prior to the post-crash fire. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N74ES](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74ES-2018-02-23), registration cancelled 2018-02-23, S/N KIT74, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RAUDENBUSH ERNIE LANCAIR SUPER ES - Registry model: [Raudenbush Ernie LANCAIR SUPER ES](https://openairdocs.org/model/raudenbush-ernie-lancair-super-es) (registry code 05607LU) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: KIT74 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 620 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 24, 2014, 20 hours before - Departed: ELP, EL PASO, TX - Destination: GEU, GLENDALE, AZ - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: minor; commercial, military, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 14, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,650 total, 240 in this make and model, 1,470 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 4 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KCGZ, 56 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 20150901020499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150901020499A), Sep 1, 2015: Raudenbush Ernie LANCAIR SUPER ES, AZ, Destroyed. ^Mr. Snider^ stated that he fueled both of the tanks on N74ES at 1600 the day before (08/31/2015) the accident at kgeu. He stated that he topped the tanks off… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 31, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91905. 5.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440558&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Engine Exam (item 2, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440559&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Engine%20Exam-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 3, .PDF, 214 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440561&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of Pilot and Continental Motors) (item 4, .PDF, 5 photos, 608 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440560&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot%20and%20Continental%20Motors)-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.