Montezuma Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Camp Verde, Arizona 86322
Monday, September 11, 2000 8:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane lost power on takeoff and landed hard during the ensuing emergency landing on a highway median. Upon examination of the engine it was noted that the forward spark plug had separated from the associated cylinder head. The cylinder head threads showed evidence of wear and appeared flattened. The pilot indicated that new spark plugs had been installed prior to the last flight and torqued to the manufacturer's recommended 110-inch pounds of pressure. He also stated that the threads on the cylinder heads are constructed of aluminum and the threaded portions of the spark plug barrels are constructed of steel. No further mechanical anomalies were noted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Separation of the forward spark plug due to wear damage to the cylinder head threads. A factor in the accident was traffic on the highway and the pilot having to maneuver to avoid the traffic.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/11/2000
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City CAMP VERDE
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86322
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport MONTEZUMA AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 7E7
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 350
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 753 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 245
Weather Observation Facility ID PRC
Elevation of weather observation facility 5045
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 32
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
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) 63
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 43
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 10924
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Sep 11 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1336
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Nov 6 2001 9:00AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N707BD
NTSB Number LAX00LA350
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 Worgull
Aircraft Model HORNET
Aircraft Series Identifier HORNET
Aircraft Serial Number 707
Certified Max Gross Weight 1000
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 Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Sep 10 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 164
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT C. WORGULL
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City CAMP VERDE
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 86322
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 7E7
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone MST
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 Oct 19 2001 4:45AM
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 --