Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Cleveland, Ohio; North Olmsted, Ohio
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
https://registry.faa.gov/N3165V
Location: McClure, OH
Accident Number: CEN19LA047
Date & Time: 12/16/2018, 1530 EST
Registration: N3165V
Aircraft: Rans S12
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (partial)
Injuries:2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On December 16, 2018, at 1530 eastern standard time, a Rans Inc. S-12XL experimental light sport airplane, N3165V, experienced a partial loss of engine power during a departure climb from the pilot's private airstrip near McClure, Ohio. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a field about 100 ft north of departure end of the runway after the airplane was unable to maintain a positive climb rate. The private pilot and a passenger were uninjured and the airplane was substantially damaged on impact with terrain. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight that was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that after he performed a walk around inspection of the airplane and loaded the passenger and pushed the airplane outside. He started the airplane in front of hanger and allowed the engine to warm up to 120°F using an engine speed of 3,000 rpm. He taxied about 1,500 feet to the southern end of the north runway, where he performed an engine runup, checked both ignitions, and checked the flight controls. During the takeoff roll, the airplane lifted off the runway about 500 feet down the runway and climbed 50 - 100 ft above ground level at which point engine sound "backed off gradually." He ensured the throttle control was full forward and pumped the throttle control twice, but the engine speed continued to decrease. The pilot decided to perform an off-airport landing on a field which the airplane stuck a powerline pole and the right wing impacted the ground.
Following the accident, the pilot reported the engine, Rotax 582, had low cylinder compression and scoring on the piston and cylinder walls. There were also aluminum fragments within the cylinder. He said that the engine was overhauled about one year prior to his purchase of the airplane by the previous owner. He was "fairly certain" that the engine did not have any problems before the accident flight. The pilot installed a heater that used the engine's cooling system, and on the following flight after the installation, there was a differential exhaust gas temperature between two cylinders, one was high in temperature and the other cylinder was low in temperature. He said that the engine runup after the installation was normal.
The pilot stated a thermostat was installed on the coolant system and coolant was used for cabin heat. He said the engine radiator was not covered for cold weather operation. He felt the piston failure was due to cold seizure.
According to the Rotax 2-Stroke Maintenance Schedule, the Rotax 582 engine had a minimum coolant temperature of 150°F.
An Ultralight News article discussed cold seizures occurring in Rotax 532/582 engines by coolant having been cooling in the radiator, in winter in cold temperatures, which can mean that the temperature is down below 100°F. The engine on the other hand is under load and is creating heat, the pistons are expanding. As the cold liquid enters the area around the cylinders, the cylinder shrink and this causes a cold seizure.
The Federal Aviation Administration Aviation (FAA) Safety Inspector from the Cleveland Flight Standards District Office stated the pilot reported that an engine cylinder compression check was not performed when he purchased the airplane, and a cylinder compression check was not performed during the last condition inspection of the airplane. The engine was not examined by the FAA, and the engine manufacturer declined to attend an examination.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 51, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 11/24/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 03/30/2018
Flight Time: 192 hours (Total, all aircraft), 30 hours (Total, this make and model), 192 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 9 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Rans
Registration: N3165V
Model/Series: S12 XL
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2000
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 04284
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/01/2018, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 975 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 115 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Rotax
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: 582
Registered Owner: Pilot
Rated Power: 65 hp
Operator:Pilot
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: USE, 781 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 12 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1330 EST
Direction from Accident Site: 145°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 9 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: Variable
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.01 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 6°C / 6°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: MCCLURE, OH (PVT)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: MCCLURE, OH (PVT)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 2030 EST
Type of Airspace:
Airport Information
Airport: Private (PVT)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 677 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 36
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 1200 ft / 60 ft
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: 41.371111, -83.942222 (est)
Accident Number: CEN19LA047
Date & Time: 12/16/2018, 1530 EST
Registration: N3165V
Aircraft: Rans S12
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On December 16, 2018, at 1530 eastern standard time, a Rans Inc. S-12XL, N3165V, experienced a partial loss of engine power during a departure climb from runway 36 at the pilot's private airstrip near McClure, Ohio. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field about 100 feet north of departure end of the runway after the airplane was unable to maintain a positive climb rate. The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain. The private pilot and a passenger were uninjured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight that was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident and was to return to the departure airport upon completion of the flight.
Post-accident examination of the airplane engine revealed low cylinder compression of the engine and scoring of the piston and cylinder walls. No other anomalies were noted.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Rans
Registration: N3165V
Model/Series: S12 XL
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: Pilot
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: USE, 781 ft msl
Observation Time: 1330 EST
Distance from Accident Site: 12 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 6°C / 6°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 3 knots / , Variable
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 9 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.01 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: MCCLURE, OH (PVT)
Destination: MCCLURE, OH (PVT)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 41.371389, -83.941944 (est)
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