# NTSB WPR17LA012: Northland IVP, N4YB, Lovelock, NV, October 20, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 20, 2016, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Lovelock, NV - Coordinates: 40.05611, -118.577774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0561&lon=-118.5778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA Reno FSDO, Continental Motors - NTSB case key (mKey): 94280 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR17LA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94280/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94280 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA012 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to the failure of the intake valve in the No. 3 cylinder for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Northland IVP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=05614RH), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Northland IVP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05614RH), [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-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Northland IVP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05614RH), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Northland IVP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05614RH), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Northland IVP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05614RH), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot reported that, while climbing to cruise altitude, about 9 minutes into the cross-country flight, he felt a severe shudder and the engine experienced a total loss of power. Simultaneously, oil began to coat the windscreen. The pilot maneuvered for a nearby airport; however, as he neared the airport, he realized that the airplane would not reach the runway and elected to land in an open area of desert vegetation. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed a hole in the crankcase above the Nos. 3 and 4 connecting rod journals. The Nos. 3 and 4 pistons were fractured into several pieces, which were located within the engine. The No. 3 connecting rod had separated from the crankshaft. The No. 3 cylinder intake valve head was broken at the bottom of the valve guide; the valve head was not located within the engine. A visual examination by a metallurgist was unable to determine the initial failure mode given the postfracture mechanical damage to the fractured end of the valve stem and the absence of the separated valve head; however, due to the quantity and severity of damage found throughout the engine, the likely initial point of failure was a fracture to the intake valve in the No. 3 cylinder. ## Factual narrative On October 20, 2016, about 0730 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Northland Aviation LLC Lancair IV-P airplane, N4YB, made a forced landing, following a total loss of engine power, near Lovelock, Nevada. The airline transport pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged to the wings and fuselage. The airplane was registered to Northland Aviation LLC and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from Fallon Municipal Airport (FLX), Fallon, Nevada, about 0710, and was destined for Burns, Oregon. The pilot reported that he was climbing to his cruise altitude of 16,500 ft when, about 9 minutes into the flight, he felt a severe shudder and the engine lost power. Simultaneous to the shudder, oil began to coat the windscreen. The pilot headed for Derby Field Airport, Lovelock, for landing, however as he neared the airport, he realized that he was not going to make the runway and elected to land the airplane in an open area of desert vegetation. A review of maintenance records indicated that the experimental Lancair IV-P, serial number LIV-482 was issued a special airworthiness certificate on February 7, 2003. The airplane was equipped with a Continental Motors TSIO-550-E, serial number 803075, 350 hp engine. The pilot reported at the time of the accident, the engine had accumulated about 865 hours since new. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed a hole in the crankcase above the #3 and #4 connecting rod journals. The #3 and #4 pistons were fractured into several pieces that were located within the engine. The #3 connecting rod had separated from the crankshaft. The connecting rods and crankshaft journals exhibited signs of thermal distress. The camshaft was fractured into four pieces. The top and bottom spark plugs from cylinder #3 exhibited debris damage and the electrodes were missing. The combustion chamber of cylinder #3 exhibited impact marks from debris. The intake valve in cylinder #3 was broken at the bottom of the valve guide. The broken intake valve head was not located within the engine and the fracture surface of the valve stem was severely damaged from debris. A metallurgist from Continental Motors visually examined the parts and determined that further examination would prove to be inconclusive due to the mechanical damage the parts sustained. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4YB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4YB), registered now, S/N LIV-482, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTHLAND AVIATION LLC IVP (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Northland IVP](https://openairdocs.org/model/northland-ivp) (registry code 05614RH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada T74-CP-700](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-t74-cp-700) (registry code 52295, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: LIV-482 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 865 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-550 SER 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 1, 2016 - Departed: FLX, Fallon, NV - Destination: BNO, Burns, OR - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,087 total, 865 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0.3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: KLOL, 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 20161020017939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161020017939A), Oct 20, 2016: Northland Aviation LLC IVP, Lovelock, NV, Substantial damage. While in cruise flight aircraft experienced a catistrophic engine failure resulting in an off-airport landing. Aircraft was substancially damaged, pilot… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 11, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94280. 13.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465065&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Engine Examination (item 2, .PDF, 7 photos, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465066&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Examination-Master.PDF - Continental Motors Report (item 3, .PDF, 14 photos, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465067&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Continental%20Motors%20Report-Master.PDF - Registration and Airworthiness Forms (item 4, .PDF, 184 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465068&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Registration%20and%20Airworthiness%20Forms-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 5, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465069&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 6, .PDF, 228 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465070&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 7, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465071&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 8, .PDF, 7 photos, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465072&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.