Pilot Debrief

TAYLORCRAFT BL near St. Petersburg, FL — 2016-03-05

Final reportERA16LA123
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Date
2016-03-05
Location
St. Petersburg, FL, USA
Aircraft
TAYLORCRAFT BL
Registration
N22661
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power due to the fatigue fracture of the No. 3 cylinder head stud.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting a cross-county flight in the single-engine airplane when the engine began to run rough. Shortly thereafter, the engine experienced a partial loss of power and the pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a golf course. During the landing, the airplane impacted trees and sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Examination of the engine revealed that two nuts were missing from the No. 3 cylinder head studs, three nuts were loose, and a third stud was fractured. The mostly-flat fracture surface of the stud exhibited features and striations consistent with fatigue, with a shear lip on one side that displayed features consistent with overstress. The fatigue fracture of the No. 3 cylinder head stud led to the loss of engine power and the loosening of several of the other nuts that secured the No. 3 cylinder head to its base.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Performing proper maintenance checks on engine components before flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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