# NTSB WPR16LA149: Swartz Gene Titan T 51 Mustang, N5103, Lancaster, CA, July 23, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 2016, 11:13 local (18:13 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, CA - Coordinates: 35.25, -118.300003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2500&lon=-118.3000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 6, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 93665 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR16LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93665/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93665 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA149 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to the separation of a flywheel magnet, which impacted the attachment bracket for the primary and secondary ignition and disrupted the timing of the ignition system, rendering it inoperative. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ignition system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057400): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Swartz Gene TITAN T-51 MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057400/cases.md?model=05619SS), [All aircraft, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057400/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Swartz Gene TITAN T-51 MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05619SS), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Swartz Gene TITAN T-51 MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05619SS), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Swartz Gene TITAN T-51 MUSTANG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05619SS), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that, while flying the experimental, amateur-built airplane in the airport traffic pattern, the engine experienced a total loss of power. He quickly attempted an engine restart, but was unsuccessful and decided to land on a nearby road. The airplane landed hard and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane subsequently veered to the right and impacted a sign. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that a loose magnet in the flywheel struck the attachment bracket for the primary and secondary ignition, which disrupted the timing of the ignition system and rendered it inoperative; the engine subsequently experienced a total loss of power. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 2016, about 1113 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Swartz Gene, Titan T-51 Mustang, N5103, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after a reported loss of engine power while on downwind at the General William J Fox Airfield (WJF) Lancaster, California. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight departed WJF about 1040. According to the pilot, the airplane was about 1,000 ft above ground level, initiating the base turn to final, when the engine lost power. He quickly attempted an engine restart but was unsuccessful and decided to land on a nearby road. He selected full flaps over the road and landed hard. Subsequently during the landing roll, the airplane's right main landing gear collapsed, causing the airplane to veer to the right and strike a highway traffic sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. Postaccident examination of the airplane's engine, under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, revealed that while accessing the engine, a loose portion of a bolt was observed at the bottom of the cowling. It was determined that the loose bolt portion came from the timing pickup bracket that secures the primary and secondary electronic ignition pickups to the engine. The magnetic flywheel, a part of the ignition system, consisted of four magnets. One magnet became loose and backed out and then struck the secondary timing pickup. Markings were consistent with the impact. The impact force on the secondary timing pickup caused one of the two bolts on the support bracket to separate and break off. Subsequently, the bracket moved about 2 inches, to the right and aft, which effected the primary and secondary ignition system's timing and rendered them inoperative. The broken bolt was replaced and the attachment bracket was secured back into it's support. The engine started and ran on the primary ignition system with no anomalies noted. However, on the secondary ignition system, the engine could not be started due to the damage sustained to the secondary system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5103](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5103), registered now, S/N M06SV6C0HK0111, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SWARTZ GENE TITAN T 51 MUSTANG (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Swartz Gene TITAN T-51 MUSTANG](https://openairdocs.org/model/swartz-gene-titan-t-51-mustang) (registry code 05619SS) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: M06SV6C0HK0111 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 153.7 - Engines: AMA/EXPR SUZUKI UNKNOWN ENG 183 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 28, 2016 - Departed: WJF, Lancaster, CA - Destination: WJF, Lancaster, CA - Airport: WJF, General Wm J Fox Airfield - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 12, 2015; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 936.5 total, 42 in this make and model, 763 as pilot in command, 1.5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: WJF, 1 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 20160723008339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160723008339A), Jul 23, 2016: Swartz Gene TITAN T-51 MUSTANG, Lancaster, CA, Substantial damage. On 07/23/2016, accident aircraft N5103, an amateur built P-51 mustang, was turning right base to final for landing at wjf, Lancaster, CA, when the engine… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93665. 8.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 649 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454608&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversations (item 2, .PDF, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454609&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations-Master.PDF - Accident Site Pictures (item 3, .PDF, 7.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454610&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Site%20Pictures-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.