Hood River Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hood River, Oregon 97031
Sunday, August 24, 2003 11:27 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot's father (right seat), a commercial pilot with more than 2,000 hours in the accident aircraft, reported that the engine ran smoothly on the ground and an RPM check prior to takeoff yielded 2600 RPM. The takeoff roll on the 3,040-foot long asphalt runway seemed long with less than normal power to the flying pilot (left seat). The aircraft was rotated at 65 knots but settled back to the runway at which time the right seat pilot took control and established a shallow climb rate toward the rising terrain west of the airport. Both pilots felt that an aborted takeoff would result in an overrun into a grassy area containing vehicles and pedestrians. The flying pilot (right seat) then banked to avoid a large tree and the aircraft settled into the treetops eventually coming to rest inverted in a bog. Post-crash examination and test run of the engine revealed that the number one cylinder could develop no more than 25-35 pounds of compression. Further examination revealed the number one cylinder intake seat had dropped down out of its normally seated position at an angle preventing the valve from seating evenly during the compression stroke.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A power loss due to a mis-seated intake valve on the #1 cylinder resulting in leakage during the compression stroke and low compression. Contributing factors were the rising terrain and trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/24/2003
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1127
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Hood River
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97031
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 454011N
Event Location Longitude 1213333W
Event Location Airport Hood River
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 4S2
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 240
Airport Elevation 631
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 82
Weather Observation Facility ID DLS
Elevation of weather observation facility 247
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
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) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
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) 30.07
Density Altitude (feet) 1300
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 4
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15586
NTSB Notification Source FAA SEA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 24 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1455
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 3 2004 1:28PM
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 N6619U
NTSB Number SEA03LA176
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Mooney
Aircraft Model M20D
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 114
Certified Max Gross Weight 2575
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 Oct 5 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Lucas, James L.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Beaumont
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92223
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Sutter Creek
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 95685
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 4S2
Departure City Hood River
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1125
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code EUG
Destination City Eugene
Destination State OR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Mar 18 2004 5:54PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 3040
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --