Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Sacramento, California
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
http://registry.faa.gov/N328SK
Location: Napa, CA
Accident Number: WPR18TA223
Date & Time: 08/11/2018, 1056 PDT
Registration: N328SK
Aircraft: Zenair ZENITH STOL CH750
Aircraft Damage:Substantial
Defining Event: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On August 11, 2018, about 1056 Pacific daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Zenith CH-750 airplane, N328SK, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Napa County Airport (APC), Napa, California. The commercial pilot/owner and his pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions existed at APC about the time of the accident. The local flight had originated from APC about 25 minutes earlier.
According to the pilot, who was also the builder of the airplane, the airplane was for sale, and the accident flight was a demonstration/familiarization flight for a potential buyer. The pilot reported that they flew in the local area for about 20 minutes, and then he handed airplane control to the potential buyer, who was in the right seat. The buyer wanted to see how slowly the airplane could fly, and decelerated to about 30 knots, which resulted in a significant airplane-nose-up pitch attitude. The airplane began "sinking," so the pilot/owner took back control and pushed the nose over to regain airspeed. Almost immediately smoke entered the cockpit. The pilot declared an emergency and headed towards APC. Within a minute or two, the engine lost all oil pressure, and then ceased developing power.
The pilot initially attempted to glide to the airport, but then realized that the airport was too distant. He then decided to land on a road atop a nearby levee. The airplane touched down on the road, and the initial rollout was satisfactory. However, due to wind, the left wingtip struck the ground, and spun the airplane around. Due to the narrow width of the road and levee, the airplane then veered off the levee, and damaged the wing and fuselage. The airplane came to rest below the top of the levee, about 0.6 miles west of the APC runway 6 threshold.
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) information, about 1050 the pilot reported to the APC air traffic control tower (ATCT) local controller (LC) that he had an "oil pressure issue." The LC asked the pilot if he required any assistance, and the pilot replied in the negative. At 1055 the pilot re-contacted the LC, advising that he was having "more issues," but did not elaborate. The ATCT controller in charge (CiC) declared an emergency for the pilot. The pilot then radioed that he had lost all engine power and was attempting to reach runway 6. At 1056 the pilot advised the LC that he could not make the runway and was landing on a levee about 1/2 mile short of the runway. After the airplane came to rest, the pilot notified the LC of their situation.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 67, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: BasicMed
Last FAA Medical Exam: 04/03/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 09/21/2017
Flight Time: 7700 hours (Total, all aircraft), 200 hours (Total, this make and model), 7500 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 15 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 5 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
FAA records indicated that the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land, rotorcraft-helicopter, and instrument airplane ratings. He also held a repairman experimental aircraft builder certificate valid for the accident airplane. According to information provided by the pilot, he had approximately 7,700 total hours of flight experience, including about 200 hours in the accident airplane make and model. His most recent flight review was completed in September 2017, and his most recent medical certificate was issued under the Basic Med program in April 2017.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Zenair
Registration:N328SK
Model/Series: ZENITH STOL CH750 No Series
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:2014
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 75-8975
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/01/2017, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 200 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: ULPower
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: 350iS
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 130 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
General
FAA records indicated that the airplane was built by the pilot, and received its initial airworthiness approval in 2014. The airplane was equipped with a Belgian ULPower brand 350iS series piston engine that was rated at 130 horsepower.
Engine Fuel
The ULPower Operating Manual (OM) for the engine stated that "regular unleaded automotive fuel…should be used to operate" the engine. The OM specified minimum octane rating values of 98 RON, 90 MON, or 94 AKI. "RON" and "MON" are two different methods and indices for determining the octane value. "AKI" stands for anti-knock index, and is the arithmetic mean of RON and MON. In the United States, the octane ratings posted by automotive fuel vendors are AKI values. Predominant US AKI values range from 87 to 93. A ULPower representative stated that the 93 AKI fuel in the US is acceptable for use in the engine. Finally, the OM also stated that "AVGAS 100 LL and/ or AVGAS UL91 may be used if regular fuel is not available." The pilot did not specifically report the fuel(s), or the octane rating(s) of those fuel(s), that he used in the engine.
Logbook Information
The pilot-provided maintenance records were neither current nor in compliance with applicable FAA regulations. The records lacked the FAA-required documentation that certified the completion of the FAA-required Phase 1 flight test period. The airframe log only contained a single entry, dated 2014, which appeared to be the original post-build airworthiness signoff for the airplane. Although the pilot reported that he had an engine logbook, he did not provide one to the investigation. The records that were provided by the pilot did not include any entries that documented any maintenance activities.
Maintenance Information
According to pilot-provided information, the most recent "100 hour" inspection was completed on April 1, 2017, and that at that time both the airplane and engine total time in service was 200.5 hours. The pilot reported to an FAA inspector that he had previously had "low compression problems" with the engine, and that he had sent the engine back to the manufacturer for replacement of several components, including all four cylinder heads, one cylinder, and all piston rings. The pilot did not provide any documentation or other substantiation of that assertion. The incomplete maintenance records precluded evaluation of the maintenance history of the engine.
Engine Oil Changes
Regular oil changes that include examination of the oil filter and oil sample analyses are common practices that are proven to provide early detection of unusual engine wear or deterioration. The pilot-provided records did not include any entries that documented any oil changes, oil filter examinations, or oil sample analyses.
Pilot's Accident Accounts
In his initial communications with the NTSB about the accident, the pilot reported that he believed that the high pitch attitude during the demonstration flight had caused the oil to be vented overboard via the oil breather assembly. In his subsequent written accident report to the NTSB, the pilot reported that "something broke in the engine and dumped oil into the muffler from the no.1 exhaust."
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: APC, 36 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1054 PDT
Direction from Accident Site: 90°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 11 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 220°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29.98 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 23°C / 14°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: Freezing - No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Napa, CA (APC)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Napa, CA (APC)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 1030 PDT
Type of Airspace: Class D
The 1054 APC automated weather observation included winds from 220° at 11 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 23°C, dew point 14°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.98 inches of mercury.
Airport Information
Airport: Napa County (APC)
Runway Surface Type: Dirt; Grass/turf; Gravel
Airport Elevation: 36 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry; Rough
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 38.200000, -122.291667 (est)
Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the wings and fuselage had sustained crush or buckling damage from the impact. The engine exhibited some impact-related damage, but it did not exhibit any visual evidence of any external non-impact related damage. The engine was found to be devoid of lubricating oil. Significant oil residue was observed on the muffler, and all along the lower fuselage. The source of the oil appeared to be in the region of the starter ring gear and its drive penetration of the engine case. The muffler was situated below the ring gear drive case penetration.
The hour meter registered a total time of 200.8 hours.
The engine was removed and shipped to the manufacturer's service facility in the US, where it was disassembled and examined in detail. All four pistons displayed evidence of significant erosion damage, consistent with detonation. At least one piston was eroded to the point that it could no longer seal against the cylinder wall. The engine manufacturer's representative attributed this level of damage to the use of 87 octane (AKI) fuel.
This piston damage would allow cylinder combustion gasses to enter and pressurize the engine crankcase, which in turn could force oil past any flexible seals and out of the crankcase. Specifically, pressurization of the crankcase could also force oil past the starter ring gear seal, out of the engine.
The engine control unit (ECU) was removed and shipped to the engine manufacturer's facility in Belgium. The ECU internal programming was validated, and then the ECU was installed on a testbed engine. That engine operated normally with the accident ECU installed.
Separately, and contrary to the pilot's unsubstantiated assertions that he had previously sent the engine back to the manufacturer for "low compression" problems, the manufacturer's records indicated no such event. Despite the fact that the engine was no longer under warranty, the engine manufacturer did provide the pilot with some replacement components at no charge. In addition, the sole US-based engine manufacturer's service center indicated that there were no records of that service center conducting any repair actions on that engine.
Additional Information
Detonation
Chapter 7 of the FAA publication Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK) presented the following information regarding detonation:
Detonation is an uncontrolled, explosive ignition of the fuel-air mixture within the cylinder's combustion chamber. It causes excessive temperatures and pressures which, if not corrected, can quickly lead to failure of the piston, cylinder, or valves. In less severe cases, detonation causes engine overheating, roughness, or loss of power.
Detonation is characterized by high cylinder head temperatures and is most likely to occur when operating at high power settings. Common operational causes of detonation are:
- Use of a lower fuel grade than that specified by the aircraft manufacturer
- Operation of the engine with extremely high manifold pressures in conjunction with low rpm
- Operation of the engine at high power settings with an excessively lean mixture
- Maintaining extended ground operations or steep climbs in which cylinder cooling is reduced
Detonation may be avoided by following these basic guidelines during the various phases of ground and flight operations:
- Ensure that the proper grade of fuel is used.
- Use an enriched fuel mixture, as well as a shallow climb angle, to increase cylinder cooling during takeoff and initial climb.
- Avoid extended, high power, steep climbs.
- Develop the habit of monitoring the engine instruments to verify proper operation according to procedures established by the manufacturer.
Accident Number: WPR18TA223
Date & Time: 08/11/2018, 1056 PDT
Registration: N328SK
Aircraft: Zenair ZENITH STOL CH750
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On August 11, 2018, about 1056 Pacific daylight time, an experimental, amateur built Zenith CH-750 airplane, N328SK, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Napa County Airport (APC), Napa, California. The commercial pilot/owner and his pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions existed at APC about the time of the accident. The local flight had originated from APC, and was returning when the accident occurred.
According to the pilot, who was also the builder of the airplane, the airplane was for sale, and the accident flight was a demonstration/familiarization flight for a potential buyer. The pilot reported that the potential buyer had requested that the pilot conduct slow flight, stalls, and other "steep maneuvers" that required pitch attitudes in excess of those that the pilot experienced during his typical flights. After an unspecified amount of time conducting these maneuvers in the local area, the two decided to return to APC for landing and takeoff demonstrations. At some point during the approach, the engine lost all oil pressure, and stopped producing power shortly thereafter. The pilot initially attempted to glide to the airport, but then realized that the airplane was unable to reach APC. The pilot then decided to land on a nearby levee. The airplane touched down on the levee, and the initial rollout was satisfactory. However, due to wind and the levee width, the airplane veered off the levee, and damaged the wing and fuselage. The airplane came to rest on the slope of the levee, about 0.6 miles west of the APC runway 6 threshold.
The airplane was equipped with a Belgian ULPower brand piston engine. The pilot reported that he believed that the unusual (for him) pitch attitudes during the demo flight had caused the oil to be vented overboard via the oil breather assembly. He also reported that he had had other problems previously with the engine, and that he had sent the engine back to the manufacturer for replacement of several components, including all four cylinder heads, one cylinder, and all piston rings.
Examination of the airplane and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the engine was void of lubricating oil. Significant oil residue was observed in the region of the starter ring gear and its drive penetration of the engine case. The engine did not exhibit any other evidence of non-impact related damage or failures. Separately, communications with the US-based engine manufacturer's representative indicated that there were no records of the engine being returned to the manufacturer.
FAA records indicated that the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land, rotorcraft-helicopter, and instrument airplane ratings. He also held a repairman experimental aircraft builder certificate valid for the accident airplane. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued in December 2014.
FAA records indicated that the airplane was manufactured in 2014. The pilot-provided flight and maintenance records were all essentially devoid of entries.
APC was situated at an elevation of 36 ft above mean sea level, and was equipped with three paved runways, designated 06/24 and 18/36 L and R. APC was equipped with an air traffic control tower, which was staffed and operating at the time of the accident.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Zenair
Registration: N328SK
Model/Series: ZENITH STOL CH750 No Series
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: Yes
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: APC, 36 ft msl
Observation Time: 1054 PDT
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 23°C / 14°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 11 knots / , 220°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.98 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point: Napa, CA (APC)
Destination: Napa, CA (APC)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 38.200000, -122.291667 (est)
A pilot and his passenger were reportedly uninjured after the small plane they were flying unexpectedly landed near the runway at Green Island Road in Napa County on Saturday morning, according to the Napa County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said the pilot and passenger are uninjured thanks to the “quick thinking” of the pilot who, after realizing there was a mechanical failure, attempted to land the plane on a levee. As the plane was coming to a stop, however, deputies said, the wind picked up and swept the small plane halfway into a nearby marsh.
There was significant damage to the plane, which is owned by the pilot.
Original article can be found here ➤ https://napavalleyregister.com
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