Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bennett, Colorado 80102
Monday, May 28, 2001 14:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While in cruise flight, the oil pressure warning light illuminated, and the oil pressure gauge fluctuated between 0 and 10 psi. The engine made a loud noise and began to vibrate and lose power. A forced landing was made in an open field. After touch down, the left main and nose landing gear buckled, then the right main gear collapsed, shearing off the right wing. During the engine disassembly and inspection, it was discovered that the starter adapter drive shaft had fractured forward of the oil scavenge pump gears at a snap ring groove. This allowed pressurized lubricating oil to be discharged through the turbocharger turbine and compressor oil seals. Metallurgical examination concluded that the fracture was in fatigue and had initiated at multiple origins at the snap ring groove root fillet.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

unsuitable terrain on which to make a forced landing. A contributing factor was a fatigue fracture of the starter adapter drive shaft, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to oil starvation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/28/2001
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Bennett
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80102
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 5
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 290
Weather Observation Facility ID DEN
Elevation of weather observation facility 5431
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 22000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 13000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.87
Density Altitude (feet) 7954
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11464
NTSB Notification Source FAA COMM CTR
NTSB Notification Date May 28 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2002 1:46PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Denver, Colorado

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N707SH
NTSB Number DEN01LA103
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Hall
Aircraft Model Lancair 4P
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number LIV-363
Certified Max Gross Weight 3700
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection May 28 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 60
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Steven C. Hall
Aircraft Owner Street Address On file
Aircraft Owner City Englewood
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80112
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FTG
Departure City Watkins
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone MDT
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? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 28 2002 11:06AM
User who most recently changed record MCBM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --