# NTSB WPR17LA191: North American Navion A, N8695H, Fortuna, CA, August 27, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 27, 2017, 16:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Fortuna, CA - Coordinates: 40.558612, -124.148887 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5586&lon=-124.1489&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 95915 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR17LA191 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95915/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95915 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA191 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have 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: [North American NAVION A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=6150132), [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. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [North American NAVION A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=6150132), [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: [North American NAVION A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=6150132), [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: [North American NAVION A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=6150132), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot stated that, after departing for the local, personal flight and as the airplane reached about 1,000 ft above ground level, the engine lost all power. He attempted to return to the airport, but the airplane was unable to maintain altitude, so he chose to make an off-airport landing in a pasture, during which the firewall sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On August 27, 2017, about 1620 Pacific daylight time, a North American Navion A airplane, N8695H, experienced a total loss of engine power during the initial climb from Rohnerville Airport, Fortuna, California. The private pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall during the forced landing. 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 had been filed for the local flight which departed from Fortuna about 1615. The pilot stated that he departed with about 10-12 gallons of fuel on board. After the airplane reached about 1,000 ft above ground level (agl), the engine experienced a total loss of power. He attempted to return back to the airport, but was unable to maintain altitude and he made an off-airport landing in a pasture about .5 miles from the runway at Fortuna. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic completed a post accident examination under the auspice of an FAA inspector. The inspector noted that the original engine for this airplane was replaced by a Teledyne Continental Motors IO-470H which was installed in June 2003. The spark plugs were removed from all cylinders revealing no signs of deterioration, wear or oil/carbon fouling. Continuity was established for each magneto, which produced spark at each cylinder. A borescope inspection of each cylinder revealed no evidence of excessive wear, deterioration, broken rings, or broken valves. The FAA inspector further stated that he observed fuel in the left, right, and main tanks. He sumped samples from each tank disclosing that there was no debris or water visible. Disassembly of the fuel manifold revealed a clean screen; there was no fuel visible. The mechanic removed the fuel inlet supply line to the fuel manifold and activated the electric fuel boost pump. Fuel flowed normally out of the inlet supply line from the tank that was selected, all of which were selected. The reason for the loss of power was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8695H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8695H), registered now, S/N NAV-4-695 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN NAVION A (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [North American NAVION A](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-navion-a) (registry code 6150132) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E225 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (registry code 17015, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: NAV-4-695 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 3739 - Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-470H6B 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 18, 2016, 4 hours before - Departed: FOT, Fortuna, CA - Destination: FOT, Fortuna, CA - Airport: FOT, Rohnerville - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Heads up display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 91; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 12 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KFOT, 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 20170827019219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170827019219A), Aug 27, 2017: North American NAVION A, Fortuna, CA, Substantial damage. Fortuna, CA (fot): N8695H, Navion A, engine power issue in the pattern, gear up landing in a pasture at the intersection of drake hill road & hillcrest drive… ## Other investigations on N8695H (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX67D0322](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX67D0322), Mar 9, 1967: Navion A (N8695H), Safford, AZ, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 17, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95915. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480029&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Engine Examination Notes (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480030&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Examination%20Notes-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.