Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Franklin, Georgia 30217
Saturday, May 21, 2005 11:49 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated he conducted an engine run up and the airplane experienced a magneto drop. A subsequent check of the magnetos revealed no anomalies. The pilot departed from runway 24 and the airplane was about 50- feet above the ground when the engine experienced a partial loss of engine power and a reduction in engine rpm. The pilot initiated a forced landing and the airplane collided with power lines and the ground. Examination of the engine assembly and fuel system revealed no anomalies. The left and right magnetos were removed. The right magneto was turned by hand and spark was present on all ignition towers. The left magneto would not produce an ignition spark when turned by hand. The left magneto was disassembled. The coil was removed and internal oil from the coil was present on the rotor and housing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The total failure of the left magneto resulting in a partial loss of engine power on initial takeoff climb, forced landing, and in-flight collision with wires and the ground.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/21/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1149
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Franklin
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30217
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 332516N
Event Location Longitude 0850942W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1200 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 108
Weather Observation Facility ID CCO
Elevation of weather observation facility 970
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3200
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) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.91
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18409
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communication Center
NTSB Notification Date May 21 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 27 2005 6:51AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Atlanta FSDO-11

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N82CQ
NTSB Number ATL05LA084
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name de Havilland
Aircraft Model DH-82-C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 327
Certified Max Gross Weight 1825
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Nov 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 1700
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name John Burson
Aircraft Owner Street Address 206 Dixie street
Aircraft Owner City Carrolton
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30117
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Ronald Dick
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 6 Shadwell Court
Operator City Fredrickburg
Operator State VA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 22406
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 8GA1
Departure City Franklin
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1148
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 6J4
Destination City Saluda
Destination State SC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 5 2005 1:09PM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --