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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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April 14, 2009 · Sungkwon Kim Long-Eze · N342MS

Dunsmuir, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 14, 2009
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Dunsmuir, CA
Aircraft
Sungkwon Kim Long-Eze
Tail Number
N342MS
Operator
Sung Kwon Kim
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR09LA195

During cruise flight, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. He maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing onto an interstate highway. As the airplane descended, the wind became turbulent and gusty. According to the pilot, a wind gust "hit [the airplane's] nose suddenly." The pilot lost control of the airplane, and it impacted trees and came to rest next to the highway. Post-examination of the engine revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction that would have prevented the engine from developing power. The airframe gascolator contained debris, but the debris obstructed less than 5 percent of the screen and would not have affected fuel flow to the engine. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the forced landing.

Full Narrative

On April 14, 2009, approximately 1600 Pacific daylight time, a Sungkwon Kim Long-Ez, experimental amateur-built airplane, N342MS, impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing attempt near Dunsmuir, California. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight, which had originated from Redding, California, about 1530. The pilot had not filed a flight plan, but he reported that Eugene, Oregon, was his destination. The pilot reported that before taking off from Redding Municipal Airport, he received fuel and checked the weather. Takeoff and climb out were uneventful. While cruising at 12,500 feet mean sea level, about 1,000 feet above a cloud layer, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. He maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing onto Interstate 5. As the airplane descended, the wind became turbulent and gusty. According to the pilot, a wind gust "hit [the airplane's] nose suddenly. Subsequently, the airplane impacted trees and came to rest next to I-5. Both wings and both canards were separated from the fuselage, and the fuselage was severely damaged. During post-accident examination of the engine by a certified airframe and powerplant mechanic, engine continuity was verified by rotating the crankshaft. During rotation, all four cylinders showed signs of compression. All cylinders were borescoped, and all displayed light scoring "that would appear normal for standard engine." The oil screen was inspected and contained one small piece of plastic material and no metal. The airframe gascolator was inspected and contained what the mechanic described as "excessive amounts of foreign debris." A photograph was taken of the debris found in the gascolator. Examination of this photograph by the NTSB investigator-in-charge revealed that the debris obstructed less than 5 percent of the screen. The mechanic also reported that the fuel line carrying fuel from the gascolator to the engine-driven fuel pump "appears to not be aircraft type material."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:00 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSungkwon Kim Long-Eze
Tail NumberN342MS
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorSung Kwon Kim
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E3D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 53 · None · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind20° @ 10 kt, gusting 22 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point37 C / 10 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time22:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data