Williamson-Sodus Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Williamson, New York 14589
Thursday, June 26, 2003 14:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

As the airplane was climbing, with the student pilot at the controls, the engine began to run rough. The certified flight instructor (CFI) took over the controls and elected to perform a forced landing to an apple orchard. During the forced landing, the left and right wings struck trees. The airplane came to rest upright. Examination of the engine revealed a fractured cylinder rocker shaft boss to the number one cylinder. The fracture was consistent with fatigue. An Airworthiness Directive, published in 1994, was issued to prevent possible engine power loss and subsequent engine failure. The AD required that maintenance personnel inspect the cylinder rocker shaft bosses for cracks at the next cylinder removal from the engine or engine overhaul, whichever occurs first, after the effective date of the AD. A revised AD became effective in 1996. Review of the airplane's engine maintenance records indicated that the last engine overhaul and cylinder removal was accomplished in 1977.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of a rocker arm shaft boss, which resulted in a partial loss of power and subsequent forced landing. A factor was the unsuitable terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/26/2003
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Williamson
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14589
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 430500N
Event Location Longitude 0770713W
Event Location Airport Williamson-Sodus Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3G7
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 280
Airport Elevation 425
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1454 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID ROC
Elevation of weather observation facility 455
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 19
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.85
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16157
NTSB Notification Source ROCHESTER FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Jun 27 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 845
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 1 2004 7:08AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FSDO-23 Rochester, NY

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8517G
NTSB Number NYC03LA137
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 150F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15062617
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 Sep 4 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2003
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Williamson Flying Club Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Williamson
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 14589
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 3G7
Departure City Williamson
Departure State --
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 3G7
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 Jul 6 2004 1:48PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --