Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Valparaiso, Indiana 46383
Tuesady, July 27, 1993 11:31 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 27, THE RIGHT ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT DETERMINED A RETURN TO THE AIRPORT WAS NOT POSSIBLE, SO HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A LARGE FIELD TO THE NORTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE EXHAUST STACK ASSEMBLY, CHAMPION PART NUMBER 4-1218, HAD CRACKED AND FAILED AT A WELD. THE P-LEADS WERE MELTED BY THE HOT EXHAUST GASES, SHORTING OUT THE MAGNETOS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE EXHAUST STACK ASSEMBLY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/27/1993
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1131
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City VALPARAISO
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46383
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 7
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 1350 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 72
Weather Observation Facility ID SBN
Elevation of weather observation facility 790
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 36
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 12000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
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 None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1291
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 28 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:28PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9981Y
NTSB Number CHI93LA289
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 CHAMPION
Aircraft Model 402
Aircraft Series Identifier 402
Aircraft Serial Number 0025
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 868
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name UNGER, STEPHEN E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 33300 LEDGE HILL DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City SOLON
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 44139
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name UNGER, STEPHEN E.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 33300 LEDGE HILL DRIVE
Operator City SOLON
Operator State OH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 44139
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 1130
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Landing
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 --