Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bakersfield, California 93302
Saturday, October 15, 1994 10:20 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ABOUT 45 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT THE INSTRUMENTS WHICH MONITOR THE ENGINES LIQUID COOLING SYSTEM BEGAN TO SHOW A RISE IN TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE. THE PILOT RECALLED THAT THE TEMPERATURE REACHED THE UPPER RED LINE LIMIT AND HE DID NOT FEEL THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD MAKE IT BACK TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT REDUCED THROTTLE AND SET UP FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED BEYOND A BARBED WIRE FENCE AND ROLLED ABOUT 300 FEET BEFORE AN UNSEEN GULLY WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE FAR SIDE OF THE GULLY. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED BY RESPONDING FAA INSPECTORS. THE ENGINE WATER PUMP WAS FOUND TO HAVE A LOOSE FITTING IN THE TOP OF THE PUMP. THE VENT LINE AND FITTING COULD BE TURNED BY SINGLE FINGER PRESSURE. THE WORM DRIVE HOSE CLAMP ON THE VENT LINE EXHIBITED EVIDENCE OF CORROSION AND THE WATER PUMP SHOWED A TRAIL OF DIRT, DUST, AND RUST MIXED WITH ANTI-FREEZE FROM THE TOP OF THE PUMP IN THE AREA OF THE VENT LINE FITTING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the inadequate maintenance on the engine's liquid cooling system fittings and lines.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/15/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1020
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City BAKERSFIELD
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93302
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 10
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 1053 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 255
Weather Observation Facility ID BFL
Elevation of weather observation facility 507
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
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 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1550
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 15 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1156
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:28PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N827H
NTSB Number LAX95LA008
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name REY
Aircraft Model AVID FLYER
Aircraft Series Identifier AVID FLYER
Aircraft Serial Number 827
Certified Max Gross Weight 1150
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 1 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROY G. REY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1706 BRANCH CREEK STREET
Aircraft Owner City BAKERSFIELD
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93312
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROY G. REY
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1706 BRANCH CREEK STREET
Operator City BAKERSFIELD
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93312
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 No
Departure Airport Code MIT
Departure City SHAFTER
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code MIT
Destination City
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --