Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chimacum, Washington 98363
Sunday, August 12, 2001 14:42 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After conducting a satisfactory pre-takeoff run-up check of both the right magneto and left coil ignition system, the pilot departed for his destination. Approximately 30 minutes into the flight the engine began to run rough and the pilot determined that the right magneto was not operating. He then selected the left ignition and, although the engine initially continued to run roughly, eventually all power was lost. The pilot selected an open field used by a farmer to operate his Cessna 177 in and out of due to the non-availability of any other adequate landing site. As he maneuvered through a 180 degree turn toward the landing area, he noted a 1,000-foot/minute rate of descent, which was greater than he had anticipated. The landing gear had been extended and as the aircraft was maneuvered onto a short final, the right main landing gear struck a cow. The aircraft yawed into a left skid, contacted the ground and skidded through a barbwire fence. Post-crash examination revealed that the right magneto had grounded internally resulting in its failure to operate. Additional testing revealed the left coil ignition system had also grounded internally as evidence by arcing, and it too, had failed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

An internal ground in the right magneto followed by an internal ground evidenced by arcing in the left ignition coil unit, which led to failure of both the right magneto and the left coil ignition system respectively during cruise. Contributing factors were a cow impacted by the right main landing gear and the pilot's unanticipated higher than expected rate of descent during the 180 degree descending turn to final.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/12/2001
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1442
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Chimacum
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98363
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 8
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 1453 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 268
Weather Observation Facility ID CLM
Elevation of weather observation facility 291
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.01
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11773
NTSB Notification Source FAA SEA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 12 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1518
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 3 2002 12:16PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Hillsboro FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6755K
NTSB Number SEA01LA154
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 Republic
Aircraft Model RC-3
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1043
Certified Max Gross Weight 3150
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 605
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Sam's Aircraft Llc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 23055 Airport Road NE, Suite 5
Aircraft Owner City Aurora
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97002
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Richardson, Gordon P.
Operator Same as Owner? No
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Orcas Island
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1415
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AUO
Destination City Aurora
Destination State OR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 18 2002 5:44PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
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 --