Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rhinebeck, New York 12572
Wednesday, June 4, 2003 13:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the initial climb, about 50 feet agl, the engine began to slowly lose power. The pilot attempted to fly a traffic pattern back to the runway, but on a crosswind leg, the engine lost all power. He then performed a forced landing to a parking lot and impacted terrain. The airplane was powered by a Le Rhone Type J, nine-cylinder rotary engine; which was manufactured about 1914. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector did not reveal pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. However, the inspector was unable to rotate the propeller due to cylinder impact damage. Fuel remained in the airplane, and was absent of debris.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power during the initial climb for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/4/2003
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Rhinebeck
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12572
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 415817N
Event Location Longitude 0735146W
Event Location Airport Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NY94
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.25
Degrees magnetic from airport 300
Airport Elevation 323
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID POU
Elevation of weather observation facility 165
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15378
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date Jun 4 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2206
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2004 3:34PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Teterboro, NJ

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4929
NTSB Number NYC03LA119
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 Palen
Aircraft Model Avro-504K
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number HAC1
Certified Max Gross Weight 1829
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 17 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 188
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Rhinebeck
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 12572
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code NY94
Departure City Rhinebeck
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Feb 16 2004 11:34AM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N
Runway Length 2200
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --