Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Athol, Massachusetts 01331
Tuesady, October 21, 2003 16:23 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot had no memory of the accident flight, but recalled that his intention was to practice instrument procedures in visual meteorological conditions. A witness observed the airplane on a "modified right base" to the airport, and shortly after heard the airplane's impact with a lake. Examination of the engine revealed the magneto idler gear support pin and gasket were dislodged from the two attachment studs. The lock washers and both nuts for the attachment studs were not located, and the threads on the studs were unremarkable. Upon removal of the right magneto, the idler gear was observed disengaged from the magneto drive gears. No additional mechanical anomalies were observed with the engine. The last annual inspection was performed about 77 hours prior to the accident. The entry for the annual inspection in the engine logbook included that both magnetos had been removed during the inspection, and were "..reinstalled...and timed to specs."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of power due to disengagement of the magneto idler gear. Also causal was the improper reinstallation of the magneto during the annual inspection.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/21/2003
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1623
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Athol
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01331
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 423200N
Event Location Longitude 0721730W
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 1636 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID ORE
Elevation of weather observation facility 555
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 5500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
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) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
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) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.38
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16597
NTSB Notification Source NROC
NTSB Notification Date Oct 21 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1745
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 28 2004 10:11AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Windsor Locks FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3419S
NTSB Number NYC04LA014
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 182G
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18255819
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 19 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 77
Airframe Hours 3133
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Gary Kamen
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Hadley
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01035
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 No
Departure Airport Code 0B5
Departure City Turners Falls
Departure State MA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1615
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ORE
Destination City Orange
Destination State MA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 9 2004 2:15PM
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 --