Penn Yan Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Penn Yan, New York 14527
Saturday, August 6, 2005 9:12 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Shortly after takeoff, as the pilot turned onto the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern and reduced engine power, the engine "went silent." The pilot initiated a descent and performed a forced landing to rough, uneven terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. Examination of the radial engine revealed the number 3 exhaust valve was fractured, due to fatigue. A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed the engine was last overhauled approximately 7 years prior to the accident, and that the engine accumulated approximately 963 hours of operation since the overhaul. Additionally, an entry dated July 30, 2005, revealed a bird's nest was removed from the induction system.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power due to a fatigue fractured pushrod.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/6/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 912
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Penn Yan
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14527
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 423813N
Event Location Longitude 0770310W
Event Location Airport Penn Yan Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PEO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 990
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 853 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PEO
Elevation of weather observation facility 990
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
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) 30.23
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20014
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 6 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 29 2006 3:49PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Rochester FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N48395
NTSB Number NYC05LA129
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Grumman-Schweizer
Aircraft Model G-164A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1628
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Arkport Air Service Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8790 Oak Hill Rd.
Aircraft Owner City Arkport
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 14807
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) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PEO
Departure City Penn Yan
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 905
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PEO
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 23 2006 3:40PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 19
Runway Length 5500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --