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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

July 15, 2017 · Simmons Gary F STOL CH 701 NO Series · N422ES

Kenwood, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 15, 2017
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Kenwood, CA
Aircraft
Simmons Gary F STOL CH 701 NO Series (2010)
Tail Number
N422ES
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR17LA156

The pilot reported that during cruise flight, a severe vibration came from the engine, and cooling fluid leaked onto the windscreen. About 30 seconds later, the engine lost total power. The pilot made a forced landing on a narrow field, and the airplane slid off the landing area into a ditch, coming to rest nose down substantially damaging the left wing and forward fuselage. An engine examination revealed that one of the spider pins and some of the material holding the pins, which connect three rubber links that transmit power between the engine and transmission, had broken. The semi-attached broken pin resulted in extreme vibration, it swung out on the other pin by centrifugal force which hit and broke the coolant line causing a loss of coolant and subsequent loss of engine power. Two days after the accident, the engine manufacturer recalled the flywheel drive assemblies and stated they would be replaced with heavier flywheel drive assemblies.

NTSB Probable Cause

Failure of the flywheel drive assembly, which resulted in a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing to uneven terrain.

Full Narrative

On July 15, 2017, about 1140 Pacific daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built STOL CH-701 airplane, N422ES, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Kenwood, California. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot, who also owned the airplane, reported that he departed from Cloverdale Municipal Airport (O60), Cloverdale, California, and was destined for Sonoma Skypark Airport (0Q9), Sonoma, California. While in cruise flight, he felt a severe vibration from the engine and saw cooling fluid leaking onto the windscreen. About 30 seconds later, the engine lost total power. The pilot conducted a forced landing on a narrow field surrounded by vineyards. During the landing, the airplane slid into a ditch on the side of the field and came to rest nose down substantially damaging the wing and forward fuselage. The pilot reported that one of the spider pins and some of the material holding the pins, which connect three rubber links that transmit power between the engine and transmission, had broken. The semi-attached broken pin resulted in extreme vibration, it swung out on the other pin by centrifugal force which hit and broke the coolant line causing a loss of coolant. Two days after the accident, Viking Aircraft Engines, the engine manufacturer, noted the forced landing due to a failed flywheel drive part, recalled the flywheel drive assemblies, and stated they would be replaced with heavier flywheel drive assemblies. About 130 engines were potentially affected.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:40 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSimmons Gary F STOL CH 701 NO Series
Tail NumberN422ES
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsViking · 110 · Reciprocating · 110
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 75 · None · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind230° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time18:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data