14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, June 16, 2012 in Anderson, SC
Probable Cause Approval Date: 05/09/2013
Aircraft: BARNEY OLDFIELD AIRCRAFT CO BABY LAKES, registration: N10XB
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
According to the pilot, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and noted no anomalies. He stated that he observed 4 quarts of oil in the engine. He hand prop started the engine, allowed the engine to warm up, and then performed an engine run-up check of the magnetos and the carburetor heat function, with no abnormalities noted. He stated that he did not recall the oil pressure of the engine during the engine run-up. As soon as the main landing gear came off the runway, the pilot noted the engine rpm was less than 2,400 rpm, instead of its usual 2,600 rpm. He ensured that the throttle was full forward and leveled the airplane at 100 feet above the ground, but the engine rpm did not increase. The pilot elected to turn the airplane for a precautionary landing on the intersecting runway. As he maneuvered the airplane in the turn, he noticed the engine rpm slowly decreasing until the engine experienced a total loss of engine power and the propeller stopped turning. The pilot searched for a place to land and maneuvered the airplane to clear trees that were in the flight path, and the airplane impacted the ground, nosed over, and came to rest inverted.
During postaccident examination, about 1/4 cup of oil was drained from the oil tank, which was not compromised during the accident sequence. According to the engine operations and maintenance manual, a minimum of 2 quarts of oil are required for engine operation. Because there was no evidence of preexisting engine oil leakage, and based on the amount of oil that was drained from the oil tank and the lack of leaked oil at the accident site, it is likely that the engine did not contain the appropriate amount of oil for operation when it departed. No other anomalies were noted with the engine.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
A total loss of engine power as a result of an inadequate amount of lubricating oil in the engine. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper preflight inspection.
On June 16, 2012, about 1250 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur built, Lane Barney Oldfield Aircraft Company, Baby Lakes, airplane, N10XB, registered to and operated by an individual, sustained substantial damage after a total loss of engine power and impact with the ground near Anderson Regional Airport (AND), Anderson, South Carolina. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91, personal flight. The flight was originating at that time of the accident.
According to the pilot, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and noted four quarts of oil in the engine, 10 gallons of fuel, and no anomalies noted. The pilot hand propped the engine, allowed it to warm up, and performed an engine run-up check of the magnetos and carburetor heat function with no abnormalities noted. He stated that he did not recall the oil pressure of the engine during the engine run-up. The pilot taxied to runway 05, announced his departure on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF), lined up on the runway centerline, and then applied full power. When the airspeed reached 40 mph, the tail came up off the ground, and at 60 mph, the main landing gear came off the runway. At that point he noted the engine rpm was less than 2,400, and he ensured that the throttle was full forward. He leveled the airplane at 100 feet above the ground, but the engine rpm remained at 2,400; when normally it was about 2,600 rpm. The pilot continued straight and level, and once the airplane was near the departure end of the runway, he turned for a precautionary landing on the intersecting runway. The pilot maneuvered the airplane in a 45-degree bank, and the engine rpm decreased to 2,200 rpm. He continued the turn, announced on the CTAF his intention to land, and noted the engine’s tachometer was at 2,100 rpm. Shortly after, the engine experienced a total loss of engine power and the propeller stopped turning. The pilot announced a “deadstick landing” on the CTAF and searched for a place to land. The airplane cleared trees that were in the flight path, impacted the ground, and nosed over before coming rest inverted. He secured the fuel, turned off the magnetos, and waited for assistance to exit the airplane.
A wreckage examination by the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector found fuel present in the carburetor. In addition, there was no engine oil observed in the oil sump, there was no evidence of an engine oil leak, and no oil was observed at the accident site.
A postaccident engine examination with FAA oversight revealed that engine continuity was confirmed from the front of the engine to the accessory section by rotating the propeller by hand with some resistance noted. Compression was confirmed on all cylinders and both magnetos generated spark. All spark plugs were removed and all were light gray in color and exhibited normal wear. Oil came out of the No. 4 cylinder when the bottom spark plug was removed. The engine was removed from the engine mounts and the crankcase was opened. The crankshaft was unable to be rotated by hand until the main bearings were removed. The rear and center bearings of the crankshaft were grooved and black stains were noted. The camshaft rotated freely with no resistance. The oil tank was removed and about a quarter cup of oil was drained from the tank. The oil screen was removed and few contaminants were noted. A magnet was placed across the oil screen and no ferrous metal particles were noted. The oil pump was intact, rotated freely, and the gears were examined with no anomalies noted.
According to the pilot, construction on the airplane began in the early 1990s and was completed in 2008. The airplane was equipped with a Continental A-80, 80 horsepower engine that was last overhauled in 1980. At the time of the overhaul, the engine had accumulated 570 hours of total time. At the time of the accident, the most recent conditional inspection was performed on June 27, 2011, and at that time the airplane had accumulated 50 hours of total time. The most recent oil change was performed on November 22, 2011.
According to the engine operations and maintenance manual, the maximum oil capacity is four quarts of oil. In addition, there must be at least two quarts of oil in the engine for operation.
NTSB Identification: ERA12LA400
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, June 16, 2012 in Anderson, SC
Aircraft: BARNEY OLDFIELD AIRCRAFT CO BABY LAKES, registration: N10XB
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On June 16, 2012, about 1350 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur built, Lane Barney Oldfield Aircraft Company, Baby Lakes, airplane, N10XB, registered to and operated by an individual, sustained substantial damage from a ground impact at the Anderson Regional Airport (KAND), Anderson, South Carolina. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91, personal flight. The flight was originating at that time.
The pilot stated that he hand propped the engine, allowed it to warm up, and performed an engine run-up check of the magnetos and carburetor heat function with no abnormalities noted. He taxied to runway 05, announced his departure on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF), lined up on the runway centerline, and then applied full power. When the airspeed reached 40 mph, the tail came up off the ground, and at 60 mph, the main landing gear came off the runway. At that point he noted the engine rpm was less than 2,400, he then ensured that he had utilized full throttle. He leveled the airplane at 100 feet above the ground, but the engine rpm remained at 2,400; the norm is about 2,600. The pilot continued straight and level, and once the airplane was near the departure end of the runway, he turned for a precautionary landing on runway 17. He maneuvered the airplane in a 45-degree bank, and the engine rpm decreased to 2,200 rpm. He continued the turn, and announced on the CTAF his intention and noted the engine’s tachometer was at 2,100. Shortly after, the engine had a total loss of power and the propeller stopped turning. The pilot announced “deadstick landing” on the CTAF and looked outside for a clear area. He cleared trees that were in the airplane’s flight path, impacted the ground, and nosed over before coming to a stop. He secured the fuel, turned off the magnetos, and waited for assistance. Bystanders came and assisted him to exit the airplane.
The airplane was retained for further examination.
Photo by Ken Ruinard, Anderson Independent Mail
A man looks at the wreckage of an experimental biplane.
ANDERSON COUNTY —
Pilot John Hornbeck was unhurt after his single-engine biplane crashed
moments after taking off Saturday afternoon from Anderson Regional
Airport.
The 38-year-old Anderson County man was the only person in the small plane when it went down around 1:30 p.m.
Hornbeck said his Baby Lakes aircraft lost power as it took off for what was supposed to be a short afternoon flight. The plane’s engine died as he tried to circle back to the airport.
“It happened so fast,” Hornbeck said Saturday afternoon.
He said he needed to act quickly because his aircraft was losing altitude fast.
“This plane is a rock,” he said.
Hornbeck managed to guide the plane over a stand of trees near the airport before it came down in a grassy area short of the runway.
He said the plane slid for about 50 feet, and then its landing gear collapsed. The plane flipped over, briefly trapping Hornbeck inside.
With the help of some bystanders, Hornbeck managed to free himself from the wreckage as emergency crews arrived at the scene.
Hornbeck said he has been flying for about three years and has owned the biplane for about a year. He said his plane suffered significant damage in the crash, but he believes it can be repaired.
Anderson County officials notified the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board about the incident Saturday, which was the second crash since April at Anderson Regional Airport.
William Hayden, a 58-year-old pilot from Ohio, died April 27 when the single-engine Cirrus SR22 he was flying caught fire after crashing at the airport. Hayden was practicing touch-and-go exercises at the time of the crash.
The 38-year-old Anderson County man was the only person in the small plane when it went down around 1:30 p.m.
Hornbeck said his Baby Lakes aircraft lost power as it took off for what was supposed to be a short afternoon flight. The plane’s engine died as he tried to circle back to the airport.
“It happened so fast,” Hornbeck said Saturday afternoon.
He said he needed to act quickly because his aircraft was losing altitude fast.
“This plane is a rock,” he said.
Hornbeck managed to guide the plane over a stand of trees near the airport before it came down in a grassy area short of the runway.
He said the plane slid for about 50 feet, and then its landing gear collapsed. The plane flipped over, briefly trapping Hornbeck inside.
With the help of some bystanders, Hornbeck managed to free himself from the wreckage as emergency crews arrived at the scene.
Hornbeck said he has been flying for about three years and has owned the biplane for about a year. He said his plane suffered significant damage in the crash, but he believes it can be repaired.
Anderson County officials notified the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board about the incident Saturday, which was the second crash since April at Anderson Regional Airport.
William Hayden, a 58-year-old pilot from Ohio, died April 27 when the single-engine Cirrus SR22 he was flying caught fire after crashing at the airport. Hayden was practicing touch-and-go exercises at the time of the crash.
