Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Brookshire, Texas 77423
Thursday, June 8, 1995 15:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF AND COLLIDED WITH A RICE LEVEE DURING THE FORCED LANDING. THE BUILDER/OWNER/PILOT HOLDS AN FAA AIRCRAFT REPAIRMAN CERTIFICATE AND PERFORMED THE MAINTENANCE ON THE AIRPLANE INCLUDING THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE FACTORY REMANUFACTURED MAGNETOS (BENDIX MODEL S4LN21 P/N 10- 51360-30; S/N 321336 AND 321337) HAD BEEN INSTALLED SINCE JUNE 10, 1988. FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, EXAMINATION OF THE MAGNETOS REVEALED 'HEAVILY CORRODED COILS.' THE LEFT MAGNETO COIL 'FAILED THE RESISTANCE CHECK.' GROUND LEAD TO HIGH TENSION RESISTANCE 'READ .85 OHM'; ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER IT SHOULD READ '12,000 TO 16,000 OHMS.' THIS WAS THE PILOT'S 'THIRD FORCED LANDING DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE.' PRIOR TROUBLESHOOTING BY THE BUILDER DID NOT LEAD TO MAGNETO TEARDOWN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

OWNER/BUILDER'S INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CORRODED MAGNETO COILS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/8/1995
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1515
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BROOKSHIRE
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77423
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 6
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 1547 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 87
Weather Observation Facility ID DWH
Elevation of weather observation facility 152
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
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) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
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 Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 728
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 8 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1845
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:20PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N33BS
NTSB Number FTW95LA237
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 STOKES
Aircraft Model SMITH DSA-1
Aircraft Series Identifier SMITH DSA-
Aircraft Serial Number 100
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 7 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM G. STOKES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 32114 ROBIN LANE
Aircraft Owner City WALLER
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77484
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 NONE
Departure City WALLER
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 Takeoff
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 --