Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Houlton, Wisconsin 54082
Wednesday, December 1, 1999 11:05 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported, 'The engine developed a bad noise and vibration so I turned it off and looked for a place to land.' He landed in a farm field and the landing gear collapsed during rollout. The inspection of the engine revealed the #1 connecting rod was detached from the crankshaft and the connecting rod cap was missing. One rod cap bolt was intact although bent, and no nut was found on the bolt. The other rod cap bolt was broken with the nut portion missing. The #1 cylinder crankshaft journal was inspected. No discoloring, significant scoring, or other damage was noted. The rod bolts and nuts for cylinders 2, 3, and 4 were inspected for proper installation and torque. All nuts appeared to be properly installed. The nuts were torque checked at 40 lbs. No nuts moved at this torque setting. The overhauled engine had been installed on the airplane on July 15, 1998. The airplane had been flown approximately 50 hours since the major overhaul.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the mechanic failed to torque the rod cap bolt during the major engine overhaul. Factors relating to the accident included the rough field and the collapsed landing gear.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/1/1999
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1105
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City HOULTON
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54082
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 12
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 2
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1378
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 1 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1734
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:06AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2005J
NTSB Number CHI00LA034
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 Taylorcraft
Aircraft Model F-21
Aircraft Series Identifier F-21
Aircraft Serial Number 1014
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 9 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 9
Airframe Hours 883
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DALE O. RUPP
Aircraft Owner Street Address 129 WILDWOOD BAY DR
Aircraft Owner City MONTOMEDI
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55115
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 21D
Departure City LAKE ELMO
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1040
Departure Time Zone CST
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 Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:06AM
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 --