Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chandler, Arizona 85249
Friday, May 27, 1994 17:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot had completed a practice acrobatic sequence when she said she heard the engine begin to 'lug.' She noted the engine oil pressure gauge was reading between 20 to 40 psi with the aircraft at full power, then almost immediately dropped to zero. The pilot selected an area for a forced landing, but as she neared the ground she said the area did not look as flat as it had initially. The pilot said that since the aircraft continued to lose power, she was committed to land. During the landing roll, the aircraft struck a berm damaging the landing gear, wings, and propeller. An internal examination of the crankcase revealed that the No. 5 connecting rod bearing had failed, although the connecting rod still remained attached to the crankshaft. The data plate indicated that the engine installed is rated for 290 hp at 2,575 rpm's. The aircraft's mechanic reported that the engine rpm was set for 2,700 rpm's.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE OPERATION OF THE ENGINE AT AN RPM SETTING THAT EXCEEDED THE ORIGINAL DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS AND RESULTED IN THE FAILURE OF THE NO. 5 CONNECTING ROD BEARING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/27/1994
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City CHANDLER
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85249
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1745 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 25
Weather Observation Facility ID IWA
Elevation of weather observation facility 1383
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 18000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 18000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 35
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 270
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 28 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N791S
NTSB Number LAX94LA225
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name STAUDACHER
Aircraft Model 300S
Aircraft Series Identifier 300S
Aircraft Serial Number 007
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 6 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 38
Airframe Hours 335
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DIANE L. HAKALA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 902 E. CATHEDRAL ROCK DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City PHOENIX
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85048
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DIANE L. HAKALA
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 902 E. CATHEDRAL ROCK DRIVE
Operator City PHOENIX
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85048
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1715
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --