Pilot Debrief

Giboney Thunder Mustang near Reno, NV — 2010-09-19

Final reportWPR10LA468
Sign in to save
Date
2010-09-19
Location
Reno, NV, USA
Airport
RTS
Aircraft
Giboney Thunder Mustang
Registration
N151G
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

Failure of a connecting rod bearing and two connecting rods, which resulted in a loss of engine power while maneuvering at low altitude.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was flying as one of a group of seven airplanes in an air race, and, during lap four, the engine lost all power. The pilot increased altitude to 2,000 feet above ground level and entered the landing pattern but had to extend his downwind to avoid traffic still on the race course. The wind took him further away from the runway than he intended so that when he turned toward the runway, he could not complete the turn to the runway heading, and intercepted the runway on a 50-degree angle at an intersection with another runway. The airplane rolled across the intersection, onto a taxiway, and continued onto a dirt ramp before cartwheeling and coming to rest in the dirt about halfway between the taxiway and the runway. Postaccident examination of the engine found that a connecting rod bearing and two connecting rods in the engine fractured and separated, which resulted in the loss of engine power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen a different landing strategy after engine failure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

Related mishaps