Smith Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Siloam Springs, Arkansas 72761
Saturday, April 18, 1998 20:30 CDT

The amateur-built experimental Quickie airplane, occupied by a commercial pilot and a pilot-rated passenger, who were the co-owners/builders of the airplane, impacted the ground in a steep left bank during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power. Disassembly of the engine revealed that six cylinder head hold-down nuts were loose, and combustion gases had been leaking between the cylinder heads and the barrels of the #2, #3, and #4 cylinders. The escaping gases cut a passage about 3/4 inch in diameter through the #4 cylinder head, resulting in the partial loss of engine power. Maintenance records indicated new cylinder heads were installed 33 hours before the accident in May 1997. A condition inspection of the airplane, which would have included a cylinder compression check, was due in November 1997, but had not been performed. According to a family member, the two owners were in the process of performing a condition inspection on the day of the accident; however, neither owner held a repairman certificate for the airplane or was a certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the forced landing. Factors were the failure of the #4 cylinder head which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and the co-owners/builders' failure to perform a condition inspection of the airplane, which would have detected the leaking cylinder heads prior to the failure of the #4 cylinder head.